Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MIAMI (April 27, 2013) – The Panthers (27-23, 10-10 SBC) pitched well enough to win, but the offense came up empty on Saturday, as FIU dropped two games to the WKU Hilltoppers (34-14, 17-3 SBC) at the FIU Softball Complex.

WKU's Amanda Thomas' leadoff solo blast to left just inside the foul pole put the Hilltoppers in front, 1-0 in the fourth inning.

Starter Corinne Jenkins (13-7) took the loss, throwing all eight innings, while yielding two runs (one earned) seven hits, walking two and striking out a pair.

Jessy Alfonso (2-for-3 with a run) led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Slowik.

After Krystal Garcia grounded out to third, Kayla Burri hit a bloop single over the third baseman's head to tie the game at 1-1.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Hilltoppers scored the eventual game-winning run on a single through the left side by Kelsie Mattox, plating Preslie Cruce who led off the inning on a hit-by-pitch.

In game two, Mariah Dawson (5-13) followed Jenkins' performance with a complete game of her own. The junior limited WKU to two hits on a run (earned), walked two and fanned three hitters.

The Hilltoppers scored the only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Cruce led the inning off with a single, moved to second on a walk and was sacrificed to third.
Ciara Garcia brought her home on a sacrifice fly to right field, providing WKU with a 1-0 lead.

FIU's two hits belonged to Bre Kaye and Brie Rojas.

The Panthers and Hilltoppers will conclude the series tomorrow 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).
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/.