Game Details
FIU 3, South Carolina 1
WP: Shannon Saile (2-0)
LP: Kelsey Oh (0-1)
Records: FIU 2-2, SC 3-1
Saturday, February 10 | 6:40 p.m. | Miami | Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium
 
The Basics

• FIU sophomore starting pitcher Shannon Saile (Land O' Lakes, Florida / Land O' Lakes HS) tied yesterday's career-high 15 strikeouts to defeat NCAA Regional Qualifier South Carolina 3-1 in the nightcap of day two of the Felsberg Invitational Softball Tournament, hosted by FIU.
• The win levels the FIU mark to 2-2, while the loss was the first for the Gamecocks this season, dropping them to 3-1.
• Saile recorded all three outs via strikeout in the first, third and fourth innings, adding a pair of punchouts in the final three frames. She allowed a run on four hits, with one walk.
• The Panthers gave Saile a lead she did not relinquish in the bottom of the third, when senior first baseman Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Florida / Palm Beach Central) doubled in two runs with two outs after a single and walk earlier in the frame. With three RBI in FIU's season-opening win, Castle has five of FIU's seven RBI through four games.
• Araceli Peralta (Tucson, Arizona) added the third RBI with a single down the left-field line to score Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep), who drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.
• South Carolina got a pair of doubles in the seventh to avoid the shutout.

 
Stat of the Game
Saile has faced a 2017 NCAA Tournament participant in nine of her last 10 appearances, dating back to last season. In the last 10 games: 6-3 (with one save) 60 IP, 34 H, 11 ER, 28 BB, 75 K.
 
Next up for FIU
"Getting those two runs early was huge," said FIU Head Coach Gator Rebhan. "Shannon is so tough and aggressive, the lead allows her to really bear down and go after the hitters, and that's what she did. We have to play every game like we played South Carolina tonight. That's how we will have to win games. We are not able to take games off and let a couple of hitters muscle us to wins. We have to play as a team and get production from lots of different people."
 
Next up for FIU
The Panthers will play twice more on Sunday to complete the weekend. FIU takes on Hofstra at 11:15 a.m. before capping the weekend with a 1:30 first pitch against East Carolina. South Carolina faces St. John's at 9 a.m. to start the final day of softball in Miami.
 
For softball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSoftball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU softball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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