MIAMI (February 15, 2018) -- FIU softball heads into the Pacific Time Zone for the first time in four seasons when the Panthers play in the Marucci Desert Classic, hosted by UNLV Friday through Sunday.
 
The Panthers are coming off a 2-4 opening weekend at home, following the Felsberg Invitational, in which they beat the only other NCAA Tournament team in the field, South Carolina, but took two losses to Hofstra and defeats by St. John's and East Carolina during the weekend.
 
FIU will take on first-time opponents BYU, Utah State and CSUN (formerly Cal State Northridge), while taking on previous opponents Nevada and the second NCAA Tournament team from 2017, San Jose State, the Mountain West Conference champ.
 
The action begins with two games Friday. FIU takes on BYU at 2:15 p.m. EST before a 6:45 p.m. game versus Utah State. The Panthers will then play against CSUN at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and will take on San Jose State right after, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, FIU faces Nevada at noon to finish the weekend.
 
Sophomore Shannon Saile (Land O'Lakes, Florida / Land O'Lakes HS) pitched three of the six games for the weekend, setting and tying a new career high with 15 strikeouts in her first two appearances, both wins, before striking out 10 and tossing seven shutout innings before a 2-0 loss in eight innings to finish the weekend against Hofstra. She currently is the NCAA leader with 40 strikeouts, and is the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. Her 22 innings pitched and three complete games lead the league, while her .143 batting-average against rate is second among qualifying pitchers. She boasts a 0.95 earned-run average, tied for second in C-USA, allowing just 11 hits and six walks.
 
Offensively, FIU has two hitters averaging a hit per game so far this season, led by junior center fielder Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS), the team's 2017 batting champion and leadoff hitter. Schoff collected nine hits and sports a .500 batting average, tied for fourth in Conference USA. She scored three runs and stole three bases to lead FIU. For her career, she bats .400, the second-highest average in school history.
 
Junior transfer Tatyana Forbes (Redwood, Washington) collected six hits and a .375 batting average batting in the two spot in the lineup. She stole two bases, drove in two runs and tied Schoff with three runs scored for the weekend.

Live stats links for all games are posted on the schedule page at FIUSPorts.com. Nevada will provide a live stream of Sunday's action, found at this link.
 
FIU defeated Nevada 10-1 back in 2011 at the home of the Wolfpack, in Reno. FIU lost 2-1 in 2008 to San Jose State, out in Mesa Arizona.
 
The Panthers will return home the following weekend to host the FIU Classic, starting Friday, February 23.
 
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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