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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 23, 2014) – In Head Coach Jake Schumann's 400th-career victory, the FIU softball team (20-12, 3-3) handed the UAB Blazers an 8-4 loss on Sunday afternoon from the UAB Softball Stadium.
Sophomore Corinne Jenkins picked up her eleventh win of the season, improving to 11-4, as she tossed 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits. The win moves her into a three-player tie for second in the conference. Freshman Gabby Spallone had a three-RBI day by way of a three-run home run in the third, giving her five for the season and tying her with fellow freshman Stephanie Texeira for the team lead. Senior Bre Kaye had her third multi-stolen base game of the season, as she now moves into fourth in Conference USA with 13 stolen bases.
It took only six pitches for Jenkins to work through the first inning, as she retired the first five batters she faced. A two-out solo home run in the bottom of the second gave the Blazers an early 1-0 edge.
The Panthers responded in a big way in the third inning, putting up five runs to take a 5-1 lead. Senior Rachel Slowik got things started when she belted her first home run of the season with one out. After walking, Kaye swiped her first of two bags for the game. She would score on a single hit back up the middle from junior Krystal Garcia. Later in the inning, Spallone hit a three-run shot that plated Garcia and Texeira, who walked earlier in the frame. The Panthers were able to chase Leigh Streetman from the game, who has been the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week twice so far this season.
FIU was able to work out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the bottom of the fourth. Two fly outs to junior Rebekah Sanchez in left field reduced damage, as the Blazers were held to just one run in the inning. On a ball hit up the middle, second baseman Kaye was able to get a glove on the ball and deflect it to Garcia just in time for the putout at second base.
FIU scored three more times in the fifth, making it an 8-2 lead. Kaye led-off by beating out an infield single and stealing her second base of the game. She would score on an infield single from Texeira, which advanced Sanchez, who laid down a perfectly placed bunt the at-bat prior, to third.
UAB made a late-inning push, scoring two in seventh. Senior Mariah Dawson came in for the final out and registered her 460th strikeout in a Panther uniform.
The Panthers return home next Saturday as the team continues conference play by hosting East Carolina for three games. First pitch on Saturday is set for 4:00 p.m. from Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.
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)
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU 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 bachelor's, master's 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. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
