Box Score

MIAMI (April 13, 2014) – The FIU softball team (27-16, 9-5) dropped the final game of the series to the UTSA Road Runners, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon from Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Corinne Jenkins (14-7) got tagged with the loss. Junior Shelby Graves came into the game in the second inning and picked up six strikeouts through six innings. Senior Rachel Slowik went 3-for-4 with two doubles, while redshirt freshman Marisa McGrogor drove in two runs in the fifth inning with a two-out single.

UTSA came out swinging, grabbing a fast three runs in the top of the first, with the most damage coming from a two-run home run. With the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning, Graves came into the game. She was able get the first batter to go down swinging. On what appeared to be a double play foul out to left to end the inning, the runner tagging for third was called safe, allowing a fourth run to score. Graves then punched out the following batter to end the Road Runners' opportunity.

Spallone roped a two-out double in the third inning, her third two-base hit of the weekend. She was FIU's first run of the game, scoring on a single through the left side by junior Krystal Garcia. Two home runs in the top of the fourth tacked on three more runs for the Road Runners, making it a 7-1 ballgame. For the second time in two innings, Slowik led off the frame with a double. She would score off a ground of from senior Bre Kaye, making it 7-2 after four innings.

UTSA responded with an eighth run in the fifth inning. Graves dealt the nation's home run leader Megan Low her first strikeout in conference play in the frame. FIU was able to plate three runs in the bottom of the inning, as Texeira led off with a single and Spallone battled back from an 0-2 count to work a walk. The Panthers capitalized off an E-6, allowing the first three Panthers to reach base safely. A two-out, two-run RBI single from redshirt freshman Marisa McGregor pulled FIU within three runs.

The Panthers loaded the bases again in the seventh inning. Garcia and Slowik both singled, while McGregor capitalized off an E-1, but no runs would cross the plate.

FIU now turns to Marshall, with a doubleheader slated for Friday.

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/.