MIAMI (March 17, 2017) -- FIU softball takes its season-long nine-game win streak into its first Conference USA series of the season, as the Panthers host North Texas Saturday and Sunday at Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium. The series begins with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 4 p.m., and a Sunday finale at noon.
 
The Panthers are 23-6 on the season, the best record in school history through 29 games. FIU is just two wins away from tying the best win streak for the program, needing the DH sweep to equal an 11-game run in 2010.
 
The Panthers are batting .328 in the first inning this season, producing more than a run per game in the first frame. FIU has allowed less than half a run per game in the first frame. FIU is also 14-0 when hitting a home run in a game this season.
 
During the win streak, freshman Shannon Saile (Land O'Lakes, Florida / Land O'Lakes HS) has posted a 5-0 record and an ERA of 0.94 to go with 35 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. She has 106 total strikeouts, the most for a Panther pitcher since 2012 as FIU nears the midway point of the season. FIU has outhit opponents .355 to .188 during the win streak.
 
Overall, FIU is second in the league with a .313 batting average, while tops in ERA (1.90) and fielding percentage (.979).
 
North Texas is 14-10 overall and the only C-USA West division team to start 3-0 in the league after a sweep of UTEP at home last weekend. The Mean Green are in the middle of the pack in batting (.280), while third-worst in the league with a 4.32 ERA.
 
Individually, Kelly Schkade is the threat at the plate to watch for North Texas, batting .395 on the season, ninth-best in C-USA. Her 23 runs are tied for seventh in conference this season. Pitcher Stacey Underwood is tied for ninth with 46 total strikeouts this season to lead the team. She has a team-best seven wins to tie for fifth in the league.
 
PantherVision will live stream the doubleheader Saturday on CUSA.tv, and that link, along with live stats links, are posted at FIUSports.com for the weekend.

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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/.