GAINESVILE, Fla. (February 17, 2017) -- FIU freshman Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) belted a pair of three-run home runs as the Panthers won their sixth-straight game, 12-1 over Florida A&M at the Aquafina Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida on Friday. After dispatching Maryland 6-1 earlier in the day, the Panthers improve to 7-1 on the season. FAMU is 0-7.
 
FIU tallied 13 hits, including a solo home run from sophomore center fielder Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) in the rout. That was part of a three-hit day for Schoff, who leads the Panthers with 14 hits, 12 runs scored and a .519 batting average. 
 
Rivera's home runs were her third and team-leading fourth of the season. Her six RBI is one shy of the single-game high for the season. She now has 10 RBI, tied for second-most on the team so far this season. She is the second player to homer twice in a game this season, joining junior transfer Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Florida / Palm Beach Central), who hit two out last Saturday against Georgetown.
 
FIU got unearned runs in the first and third before Schoff hit a leadoff, inside-the-park homer in the fifth. She was followed by a single, a walk and two outs by Rivera, who's homer came with two outs and a 1-0 count to relief pitcher Tahlia Snider for a 6-0 score.
 
After the Rattlers got a run in the sixth, FIU doubled the score with six in the seventh frame, when the Panthers sent 10 batters to the plate. A single and a walk to lead off the inning allowed Rivera to drive them all in on a 1-2 pitch hit out to left. A passed ball with the bases loaded scored the fourth run of the frame and an infield single from freshman Tori Jones (Raymond, Mississippi) brought home the fifth run. A groundout with runners at the corners by senior second baseman Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) plated the final run of the game for the Panthers.
 
FIU freshman pitcher Shannon Saile (Land O'Lakes, Florida / Land O'Lakes HS) struck out eight in five innings. She allowed just one hit and an unearned run in the outing to secure her second win (2-1) of the season. She has 30 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched this season. She walked four Rattlers.
 
FAMU hurler Kenya Pereira took the loss, dropping her to 0-3.
 
FIU will take on FAMU in the first of two afternoon games tomorrow in Gainesville. First pitch for that contest is scheduled for 3:45 p.m., ahead of a 6 p.m. tilt scheduled with Northwestern State.

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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/.