HUNTINGTON, W.V. (May 1, 2016) -- FIU scored twice in the first inning, but three unanswered runs by Marshall in the first two frames were enough as the Thundering Herd defeated FIU 3-2 to win the weekend Conference USA softball series Sunday at Dot Hicks Field. FIU is now a level 26-26, 9-12 in Conference USA. Marshall improves to 27-24, 11-10 in league games.
 
The Panthers jumped on the board early, starting with a leadoff home run from freshman left fielder Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch), her second of the season. Second baseman Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep / Auburn University) singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead, but it was their last scoring play of the afternoon.
 
The Herd tied the game with two in the bottom of the first on two hits, two stolen bases, a sacrifice fly and an FIU error.
 
Marshall got the game-winning run on two two-out singles and another pair of stolen bases for a 3-2 margin. Both teams changed pitchers in the early going.
 
Marshall hurler Brittanie Fowler came in after the first and held FIU scoreless the rest of the way. FIU senior pitcher Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS) did not allow a Marshall run in the four innings she tossed. Jenkins allowed two hits and struck out two in the no decision.
 
The loss went to FIU starting pitcher Abby Summers (Weston, Missouri). She gave up all three runs in the first two innings on four hits and one walk. She struck out one batter.
 
Fowler got the win and is 2-1.
 
FIU will host Middle Tennessee for the final weekend of the regular season. The Saturday doubleheader on Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium begins at 4 p.m.

#######
 
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.