Game Details
Marucci Desert Classic
FIU 5, Nevada 1
WP: Shannon Saile (4-2)
Records: FIU 5-6, Nevada 3-7
Sunday, February 18 | Las Vegas, Nevada
 
The Basics
 - The FIU softball team scored three runs in the top of the second inning, and that was all it needed as the Panthers handed Nevada a 5-1 loss in the final game of the Marucci Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday afternoon. The win, FIU's third in its last four games, improves the Panthers to 5-6 on the year, while the Wolfpack drop to 3-7. FIU finished its trip to the City of Lights with a 3-2 record
 
- Shannon Saile (Land O'Lakes, Florida/Land O'Lakes) allowed only one run on three hits while striking out 12 and walking two Nevada batters in the win. The Tampa Bay-area pitcher improves to 4-2 in 2018. 
 
- With the bases loaded in the second inning, Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida/Gulliver Prep) came up with the big hit, a two-RBI single to get the Panthers on the board first, 2-0. In addition, Venessa Gallegos (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) crossed the plate in the second to give FIU its 3-0 advantage. The Panthers also got RBI singles in the fourth by Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida/Lakewood Ranch), and in the sixth by Natalie Orcutt (Peachtree City, Georgia) to push their advantage to 5-0. Nevada's lone score came on a lead-off home run in the Wolfpack's half of the sixth inning.
 
- On the day, Rivera ended up 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Orcutt and Julia Gilbert (Rialto, California) were each 2-for-3 in the win. Tatyana Forbes (Redmond, Washington) finished 2-for-4.
 
Up Next
FIU hits the field next on Friday, Feb. 23, with the first day of the FIU Classic. The Panthers open play against Central Connecticut State at 3:45 p.m. and Boston College at 6:30 p.m.