Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STATESBORO, GA (March 2, 2013) – The FIU Panthers (12-8) won the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, 2-0 to Alabama State, but let the second game slip away, 3-2 to Georgia Southern at Eagle Field on Saturday.

In the first game, Aleima Lopez drove home two Panthers, Brie Rojas and Amber Curry, on a single past the second baseman in the bottom of the fourth to give FIU a 2-0 edge.

Starter Shelbie Wagnon and Mariah Dawson (2-4) combined for a one-hit shutout.

Wagnon threw the first three innings, allowing a hit and walking two.

Dawson, who improved to 2-4 on the season, tossed the final four frames of hitless softball, issuing a walk and fanning six hitters.

In the day's second game, FIU struck in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Rojas shot a double to left field and would later score on a Curry single to right, giving FIU the early 1-0 lead.

In the second frame, Nicole Rascon reached on an error by the pitcher, and would advance to third on an Alex Casals single to the pitcher. Rojas brought Rascon across
home plate with a single through the left side, putting FIU ahead, 2-0.

Georgia Southern came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth at 2-2.

After a single by Lexi Allen and a double by Shelby Morrill, Andrea Tarashuk singled to Bre Kaye at third, plating Allen, cutting the deficit in half, 2-1.

FIU starter, Corinne Jenkins, hit Lindsey Wilcox with the bases loaded, allowing Allen to score, tying the contest at two apiece.

Georgia Southern completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh.

Leadoff hitter, Alexa Lewis singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Allen.

Lewis advanced to third on a groundout by Kourtny Thomas and scored on a fielding error by Rojas at second base, giving the Eagles the 3-2 victory.

Jenkins threw four innings, allowing three hits two runs (both earned), walking three and striking out four, before being replaced by Dawson in the fifth inning.

Dawson (2-5) took the loss, throwing the final 2 2/3 innings. She gave up three hits, a run (unearned), walking one and fanning three.

FIU will conclude Georgia Southern Eagle Classic play on Sunday afternoon against South Carolina at 12 p.m.

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.

###

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