By Anthony Guivas/ Staff Writer
sports@fiusm.com

The Panthers scored a total of 40 runs during the tournament en route capturing the Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial title.
After starting the year off at 1-4 FIU (6-4) has flipped the switch and have won five straight contests, going undefeated in the Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial.
“We just brought a little more intensity, a little more fire to the table and it was a great week of practice so it’s no accident we played so well this weekend” Coach Jake Schumann said.
FIU 5, UIC 4 (F/8)
It was a pitcher’s duel as sophomore Mariah Dawson pitched a complete game despite allowing six hits for the win. Dawson allowed three earned runs and striking out eight on the day as FIU took care of UIC 5-4 in the opening game of the Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial on Feb. 17.
Down 3-1, the Panthers clawed back by scoring four runs in the final two innings.
With the bases loaded first baseman Shelby Graves came to pinch hit and delivered a sacrifice fly inching the runner closer. Third baseman Jessy Alfonso was plunked by a pitch, leading the game to be tied at 3-3, forcing extra innings.
Despite UIC scoring a run in extras, the FIU persistence prevailed. Erika Arcuri laid down a near-perfect bunt to place the tying run on third for Ashley McClain. The right fielder took two pitches before launching a deep drive to center field giving FIU the walk-off win.
FIU 8, PROVIDENCE 0 (F/5)
It was safe to say that the Panthers were running on all cylinders in game two as they shut out Providence 8-0 on Feb 17. Jenn Gniadek earned her first win of the year with her 5 innings of shutout ball. The shutout being her 5th of her career tying her 5th all time on FIU’s list with Vanessa Preston. FIU now stands at 3-4 on the year.
FIU opened up the scoring in the first with an unearned run. But things really began to pick up for the Panthers in the second inning when Panthers posted up three runs to give FIU a 4-0 lead.
In the fifth inning Beth Peller came up and singled up the middle with the bases loaded, driving in two ramping up FIU’s lead 6-0.
FIU tacked on two more runs on errors to force the mercy rule in the fifth.
FIU 3, SOUTH CAROLINA 1
FIU’s Dawson pitched a gem on Feb. 18 throwing her fourth complete game of the year, limiting the Gamecocks to two hits in their victory.
“My mindset tonight was to come in stronger this game and to really let my defense work behind me,” Dawson said. “Mixing it up the ladder going up, going down, side to side and throwing off-speed. So just working the pitches really good”.
Junior Alex Casals got the ball rolling getting on base via an error and later on moved to second on a fielders choice by Megan Horne who reached safely on the play. McClain would then step to the plate and single to load up the bases.
Center fielder Peller then delivered the first run of the game in the third inning with an RBI groundout. Shelby Graves followed with an RBI single. The last run came in when South Carolina’s left fielder had trouble scooping up the ball hiking up FIU’s lead to 3-0. The Panthers would not look back
“I think we played a pretty solid weekend so far. Solid defense, solid pitching, solid hitting and I think we have put everything together the last four games. You go 4-0 when you play that way,” Schumann said.
FIU 21, VILLANOVA 2 (F/5)
After reaching the .500 plateau with a win against South Carolina, it didn’t take long for FIU to add yet another win as they beat Villanova with a school-record 21 runs in 5 innings.
The Panthers offense came alive in the ballgame with two eye-popping 10 run innings adding another school record to a historic night of softball on Feb. 18.
Kayla Burri, who homered, led the way for FIU, going 4-4 and driving in four runs for the Panthers. And via the mercy rule the game concluded in the fifth by a score of 21-2.
FIU 3, JACKSONVILLE 1
The streaking Panthers would continue their winning ways on Feb. 19 against Jacksonville.
The Panthers started off with two quick runs in the first frame. McClain and Peller would both advance on a Brie Rojas groundout that then lead to Shelby Graves deep fly. McClain tagged home.
FIU would tally up another run on a single by Burri extending their lead to a quick 2-0.
The Panthers would add another run in 2nd inning on a McClain infield single, but from that point on runs were at a premium making the game a pitching affair.
Gniadek pitched well through the first three frames but hit a snag in the fourth giving up a solo homer, a walk and a single.
This then lead to Gniadek being replaced by Dawson who got the win for the Panthers after pitching four shutout innings with nine strikeouts.
“I was a little nervous I mean you never like to have runners on second and third when the score is just 3-1. That’s two runners that could have tied the game easily but I came in there and knew I needed to get another out,” Dawson said.
FIU will now look to continue their winning streak next weekend as they head to Boca Raton to start the FAU Invitational. The Panthers will take on Tulsa at 11 a.m. and Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. on Feb. 24.