Box Score Boca Raton, Fla. (April 17, 2013) – An eight-run offensive explosion for the Panthers (27-21, 10-8 SBC) helped provide an 11-8 road victory over the FAU Owls (25-25, 8-10 SBC) on Wednesday night.

Amber Curry led off the game with solo home run to centerfield.

The Owls tied the game and took the lead in the bottom half of the first on RBI singles by Carnesha Thompson and Jordan Stovall. The ensuing hitter, Alexa Ballard, hit a grand slam over the left centerfield wall to give FAU a 6-1 advantage, knocking starter Mariah Dawson out of the game.

After cutting the deficit to 6-2 in the second, the Panthers sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning. An eight-run, five-hit frame was ignited by a three-run, bases-clearing double by Kayla Burri, bringing FIU back to within 6-5.

Rachel Slowik capped off the inning with a two-run double to left, providing the Panthers with a 10-6 lead.

The Panthers scored their final run in the fifth courtesy of a single by Aleima Lopez that plated Bre Kaye.

Shelby Graves (6-1) earned the win, throwing 5 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, walking three and fanning six. Freshman Corinne Jenkins
earned her first collegiate save, coming in to pitch the seventh inning.

FIU will next host Western Kentucky in a doubleheader on April 27 at 4 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/.