MIAMI (Feb. 24, 2019) – The FIU softball team fell to Columbia, 3-0, on Sunday, capping the Panther Invitational with a 3-2 record over the weekend.
 
After three weekends of play, the Panthers are 9-5 overall. The 9-5 start is FIU's best since starting 10-4 in 2017, the Panthers finished 46-15 overall that season and earned an NCAA Regional berth.
 
FIU downed Big-10 foe Rutgers twice at the Panther Invitational, while also defeating Columbia before dropping a game to the Lions and Monmouth on the weekend.
 
Kendahl Dunford took the loss for the Panthers in the circle, after giving up three runs in three innings of work. The loss for Dunford was her first blemish of the season, as she now sits at 3-1 for the year.
 
Jackie Schoff led the Panthers at the plate after going 3-for-3 against Columbia to cap her stellar weekend. The senior was 8-for-15 overall on the weekend, earning two RBIs and two triples.
 
Columbia jumped ahead in the first inning after Sommer Grzybek knocked a two-run homer to left field to put the Lions up 2-0. The junior hit a solo shot in the fourth inning to extend Columbia's lead to 3-0 over the Panthers.
 
The Panthers earned five hits on the afternoon but could have collected a handful more if not for the solid defense displayed by Columbia's outfielders.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will head to Madeira Beach, Florida from March 1-3 to take part in the Madeira Beach Invitational as FIU faces Georgia Southern, Penn State, Villanova, Siena and Detroit Mercy. Tickets to all FIU games can be purchased online at tickets.fiusports.com or by phone at 305-FIU-GAME.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUSoftball on Facebook and @FIUSoftball on Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.