MIAMI – The FIU softball team will conclude its 11-game homestand to open the 2023 season with the four-team FIU Invitational this beginning this Friday, Feb. 17 at Felsberg Field in Miami.
 
The Panthers will play a total of five games over the three-day event, beginning on Friday vs. Butler in a 12:30 p.m. ET first pitch.
 
LIVE STATS – CLICK HERE
TICKETS – CLICK HERE
 
2023 PANTHER INVITATIONAL (COMPLETE SCEHDULE)
 
Friday, Feb. 17

2/17	Butler vs. Missouri	10 a.m.
2/17	Butler vs. FIU	12:30 p.m.
2/17	Missouri vs. Pittsburgh	3 p.m.
2/17	FIU vs. Pittsburgh	5:30 p.m.

 
Saturday, Feb. 18

2/18	Pittsburgh vs. Butler	10 a.m.
2/18	FIU vs. Missouri	12:30 p.m.
2/18	2nd vs. 3rd	3 p.m.
2/18	1st vs. 4th	5:30 p.m.

 
Sunday, Feb. 19

2/19	Missouri vs. TBA	9:30 a.m.
2/19	FIU vs. TBA	12:30 p.m.

 
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE/LINKS
Feb. 17 – FIU vs. Butler – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 – FIU vs. Pittsburgh – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 – FIU vs. TBA – 12:30 p.m.
 
BUSY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE CONTINUES FOR PANTHERS
The Panthers will play a total of five games over three days at this weekend's Panther Invitational at Felsberg Field against Butler, Pittsburgh and No. 23 Missouri.
 
This weekend marks the second of three tournaments that FIU will host and of four that they will compete in over the initial four weeks of the regular season.
 
Next week will see the Panthers hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Madeira Beach, Fla., for The Spring Games event, which will see FIU play six games over three days against Dartmouth, Valparaiso, Notre Dame and Oakland.
 
FIU will then close out the early season tournament schedule the following weekend (March 3-5) with the FIU Classic, which will see Stonehill College, Nevada and Stony Brook head to Miami.
 
Overall, the Panthers will play 18 of their first 23 games at home and host tournaments over three of the season's first four weekends.
 
PANTHERS MOVE TO 4-2 WITH MIDWEEK WIN OVER STETSON
FIU used a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth to secure a 6-3 victory over Stetson on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in its most recent action – for its fourth win in six games to open the 2023 slate.
 
Junior Carmen Perez ripped single up that drove home freshman Makayla Navarro and junior Alexis Ross for the eventual tying and winning runs with no outs in the fifth.  The Panthers added on two more runs in the frame when sophomore Ashton Lansdell and Perez each scored on a wild pitch and Stetson error to account for the final margin.
 
Sophomore Brooke McCann laced a clutch two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the first.
 
Freshman Ella Whitney (1-1) claimed the win for the Panthers after limiting the Hatters to just four hits and one run over seven innings of relief.  She struck out two and walked one.
 
PERFECT VS. NON-RANKED OPPONENTS
FIU enters this weekend's Panther Invitational sporting a perfect 4-0 mark against unranked opponents.
 
The Panthers' only losses came against then-No. 10 ranked Clemson last weekend at the Felsberg Invitational.
 
SWINGING THE STICKS
FIU boasts a total of seven players currently batting .300 or better over the opening six games of 2023.
 
Junior Alexis Ross has posted an average of .474 while starting each of the opening six games.  The center fielder registered at least one hit in each of the opening five games before going hitless for the first time vs. Stetson on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Fellow junior Carmen Perez is hitting .444 overall with a team-best six RBI and three doubles over five starts.
 
Senior Frankie Izard has recorded a .556 average over four games – she has also drawn a pair of walks and added a team-high five steals.  Her .636 on-base percentage paces the Panthers.
 
Sophomore Brooke McCann is hitting at a .500 clip – she has recorded a hit in each of the four games in which she has had a plate appearance.
 
FIU OPENS SEASON WIH THREE WINS AT FELSBERG INVITE
The Panthers opened the season at home last weekend as they hosted the Felsberg Invitational in Miami.  FIU posted three wins in five games, with the only two losses coming against then No. 10 Clemson.
 
The Panthers tabbed wins over Kansas City (twice) and Georgia State.
 
FIU will host two other tournaments during the non-conference portion of the schedule including this weekend's Panther Invitational – which opens on Friday, Feb. 17.
 
MOST HITS IN 64 GAMES
The Panthers finished the game with 13 hits in their 9-2 victory over Kansas City on Feb. 10 – their highest total in the last 64 games.  Senior Frankie Izard and junior Carmen Perez each led the way with three hits. 
 
RUN, RUN, RUN
FIU's improved team speed has been evident over the beginning of the season as they Panthers have posted a total of 16 stolen bases during the opening six games of the 2023 campaign.
 
While only being caught three times overall, FIU posted a game-high six swipes against Kansas City on Feb. 10.  The Panthers logged four swipes in its second meeting with the Roos on Feb. 11.
Overall, FIU has posted at least one stolen base in five of six games this season.  Senior Frankie Izard leads the Panthers individually with five steals.  Junior Alexis Ross is second and is a perfect 4-of-4 on her attempts this season.
 
Six different players have stolen at least one base for the Panthers this season.
 
DON'T RUN
FIU freshman catcher Isabella Perez has already established herself as a problem for opposing baserunners. 
 
The backstop opened her collegiate career last week by tossing out five of the seven baserunners who attempted to steal against her.
 
WHAT IS BACK/NEW FOR FIU
The Panthers features a total of 11 newcomers on this season's roster, including eight freshmen.  FIU returns 10 letterwinners from the 2022 squad and lost a total of 16 players.
 
UP NEXT
Next week will see the Panthers hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Madeira Beach, Fla., for The Spring Games event, which will see FIU play six games over three days against Dartmouth, Valparaiso, Notre Dame and Oakland.
 
All of the Panthers' games at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach will be streamed live on FLOSports - LINK
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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