Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MIAMI (March 6, 2013) – Following a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Eastern Michigan Eagles, the Panthers (15-10) came back to split the Wednesday night doubleheader, 4-1 at the FIU Softball Complex.

In game one, Eastern Michigan jumped ahead, 5-0 after three innings, capitalizing on a four-run third.

Three hits by Katy Blaharski, Amanda Stanton and Jenn Lucas produced all the offense Eastern Michigan would need. Lucas' three-run double off FIU's Mariah Dawson (3-7) put the game away at 5-0.

FIU scored twice in the third to cut the deficit to 5-2 and another run in the fourth, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Dawson, who took her seventh loss on the year, lasted just three innings, allowing six hits, five runs (four earned), two walks and striking out five.

In game two, starter Corinne Jenkins surrendered an RBI single to Nellie Coquillard in the first inning, but would not allow another runner to cross home plate for the final six frames.

The Panthers scored four unanswered runs in the bottom of the second, none of which were earned. A dropped fly ball with two outs in centerfield allowed Krystal Garcia and Kennah Orr to score, giving FIU a 2-1 lead.

The error extended the inning and led to back-to-back RBI singles by Kayla Burri and Aleima Lopez to put FIU ahead, 4-1.

Jenkins threw her team-leading fourth complete game of the season to improve to 7-1. The freshman allowed five hits, one run (unearned), walked six and struck out eight hitters.

FIU will next open Sun Belt Conference play at North Texas on Saturday, March 9 in a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 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.

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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/.