Jolson Diaz/ Contributing Writer
With a five-game winning streak, the FIU softball team rode a wave of momentum into this past weekend that was quickly crushed in their homestand against University of South Alabama.
FIU gave up 29 runs in a weekend series sweep, allowing USA to remain in first place both in the Sun Belt Conference.
During the first game of the series, freshman Corinne Jenkins (11-3), who has been FIU’s most dominant pitcher,suffered her third loss of the season giving up four runs in only 3 1/3 innings. Junior Mariah Dawson (4-10) picked up

The softball team’s bats were dwarfed by USA this past weekend, getting outscored 29 runs to 10. Roberto Jimenez/FIUSM
her 10th loss of the season, allowing 10 runs in a complete game pitched in game two of the double header against USA.
Junior Shelbie Wagnon was not much different. Picking up her second loss of the season, she gave up five earned runs in just two and one third innings. Long balls proving to be an issue as well; FIU pitchers gave up seven home runs, four in the span of just one inning.
“We’re just not pitching well,” said Head Coach Jake Schumann. “We gave up a couple long balls with people on after a couple walks, good teams like that are going to pounce on you and make those mistakes hurt.”
FIU SWINGING QUIET BATS
Along with pitching, this past weekend FIU bats were cooled down by South Alabama pitching. FIU’s opponent held them to just six hits and struck them out 14 times in just the first two games of the series.
During the first game of the double header, FIU was only able to carry out five runs off three hits and committed five errors. USA knocked out 11 runs off 10 hits committing no errors. Game two was not much better as FIU scored no runs off three hits, while USA scored 10 runs off of 10 hits.
Game three was much improved for FIU, they were able to attain five runs off seven hits, compared to USA’s eight runs off eight hits.
“We have to step it up when it comes to hitting,” said senior Brie Rojas. “We have to make fewer errors and tighten up defense, our hitting isn’t enough.”
GETTING BACK UP
After holding down the top two spot in Sun Belt Conference softball in week six, FIU drops to fifth place in the division and SBC after losing three straight to South Alabama this past weekend. The Panthers look to revamp their energy by taking on teams that all fall below them in the SBC standings.
This upcoming weekend, they start a road trip in Louisiana taking on Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana Monroe.
Louisiana-Lafayette (19-11, 2-4 SBC) is seventh place in the standings. Louisiana-Lafayette’s 7-2 home record proves that they feel more comfortable playing on home turf, while FIU has an away record of 4-4.
Louisiana Monroe (14-14, 1-5 SBC) is eighth in the standings, with just one win in conference play. Their winning percentage in the overall division and in the SBC falls below .500 and they have a record of 4-1 at home.
FIU looks to take advantage of the lower-ranked Louisiana squads.
“During the last game of the series against USA, we were able to score when they made their mistakes,” said Schumann. “We did a better job and we will build on that going on into the next series.”