Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MIAMI (March 16, 2013) – The Panthers (20-13, 3-1) protected their home field against Sun Belt Conference rival, Middle Tennessee, sweeping the Blue Raiders, 6-1 and 12-4 in six innings at the FIU Softball Complex.

FIU scored three times in the first inning, ignited by an RBI single up the middle by Brie Rojas, driving in Nicole Rascon, who led off with a double.

A sacrifice fly by Kayla Burri and a throwing error by the leftfielder allowed Jessy Alfonso and Rojas to score, giving FIU a 3-0 lead.

Middle Tennessee got one of those runs back in the second inning thanks to a solo homerun off the bat of Samantha Nieves.

The Panthers' responded in the bottom of the frame following a solo homerun by Shelby Graves to centerfield, putting the score at 4-1.

The Panthers added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning courtesy of a throwing error by the leftfielder and a double by Rachel Slowik, who drove in Graves from second
base.

Corinne Jenkins (10-2) earned the win, tossing a complete game, allowing three hits, a run, walking one and striking out four.

In game two, the Panthers wasted no time against starter, Caitlin McClure (0-6).

A three-hit, four-run, first inning was highlighted by RBI singles by Rojas and Graves.

A third run in the third frame gave FIU a 5-0 lead.

However, the Blue Raiders responded with two of their own in the top of the fourth after an RBI double by Nina Dever and a fielding error by Burri, allowing Dever to cross home plate.

FIU added three more runs in the fifth and closed the game out in the sixth inning with two outs and two runners on base.

Singles by Rascon and Alfonso put freshman Aleima Lopez at the plate, who hit a three-run blast over the leftfield wall to give FIU the 12-4 mercy-rule victory. The home run
was Lopez's third on the season and raised her RBI total to 23, both team-highs.

Panthers' starter, junior Mariah Dawson (4-9) earned the victory, giving up six hits, four runs (three earned), walking one and striking out seven in 4 1/3 innings.

Shelbie Wagnon finished the final 1/2/3 innings, allowing two hits, walking two and fanning a batter.

The Panthers and Blue Raiders will conclude the series on Sunday at noon.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSoftball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
The Blue and Gold will play 33 home games at the FIU Softball Complex. Season tickets for the 2013 season cost only $35 for public seating, $20 for FIU employees and alumni, or $70 for the Family Plan (2 Adults and 3 Youth). To purchase single-game or season tickets, call the FIU Ticket Office at (305) FIU-GAME, or online at
FIUSPORTS.com.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelors, masters and doctoral
programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission and enrolls nearly 48,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South Florida. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu