MIAMI, Fla. – With the wind blowing in on a blustery south Florida evening, Jacksonville University's softball team was unable to overcome a sixth-inning rally from Florida International and fell, 3-1, Thursday evening.

"We battled a good FIU team tonight who is receiving votes in the national poll. As we continue to mature and learn to take out place in the softball world, we must figure out how to play at a consistently high level," said Head Coach Jennifer Steele.

Florida International took advantage of three Dolphin (20-12) errors in the bottom of the sixth to get three Panthers across the plate and ultimately steal the game, 3-1.

A Panther (27-6) triple led off the bottom of the sixth and scooted home on a Dolphin fielding error to tie the game at 1-1. With one out and a runner on first, a Panther doubled through the left side. The ensuring throw sailed over the cutoff man between third and shortstop, bounced, and rolled toward the backstop to allow a second FIU run to score and the batter to scoot to third. A second Panther doubled, again to left field, to drive in the final FIU run.

The Dolphins got on the board early in the first inning after Heather Roberts doubled in Danielle Baker, who drew a walk, for a 1-0 Dolphin lead. After ending the first inning on a slick double play, where Ciara Jones caught a fly ball in left field and threw the runner headed for third out, the Dolphins and Panthers kept the game at a deadlock, with neither pitcher facing more than four batters in half an inning until FIU's rally in the bottom of the sixth.

Allie McCourt, Roberts, Jordan Daniels, and Bethany Kursch all tallied hits for the Dolphins, while Roberts had the lone RBI. Taylor Thorpe suffered the loss in the circle and fell to 7-3 on the season.

The Dolphins return to the diamond Saturday, March 25 to open ASUN Conference play with a doubleheader at Florida Gulf Coast. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. with game two slated for 4:00 p.m.