Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Game One: Box Score (HTML)

Game Two: Box Score (HTML)

FT. MYERS, Fla. (April 2, 2014) – The FIU softball team (23-14, 5-4 C-USA) split a midweek doubleheader against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Wednesday, falling 6-5 in game one before handing the Eagles a 6-4 loss in the nightcap. 

Game One: FGCU 6, FIU 5
Sophomore Corinne Jenkins(12-5) got tagged with just her fifth loss this season in a 6-2/3 innings, nine-hit, two-strikeout performance. The top of the Panthers' order drove in all five of FIU's runs, with freshman Stephanie Texeira leading the way on a two-hit, three-RBI game. The Miami native blasted her team-leading seventh home run in the sixth inning, and her 30 RBI now moves her into a third place tie within the conference. Junior Rebekah Sanchez (2-for-4) and senior Nicole Rascon (1-for-3) provided the other two Panther runs of the game. Senior Shelby Graves also had herself a two-hit game, the 17th of her career.

Texeira put the Panthers ahead 1-0 in the first inning off an RBI double to the left field wall, which plated Rascon, who walked the at-bat prior. A three-run bottom of the first for the Eagles gave Florida Gulf Coast a 3-1 edge.

FIU answered in the second inning and evened things up at 3-3. The Panthers' first three batters of the inning reached on singles, and with two outs, Sanchez beat out an infield single hit deep into the hole, allowing the runner at third to score. Rascon followed with an RBI single to left field. The Panthers used a 6-4-3 double play to escape the bottom of frame, limiting FGCU to just one run.

A promising fourth inning and fifth inning for the Panthers would result in two bases loaded situations, but FIU wouldn't be able to push a run across until the top of the sixth when Texeira belted a two-run shot over the wall in left, tying the game at 5-5. 

A lead-off triple and two intentional walks in the home half of the seventh gave FGCU a bases loaded situation. An unassisted put-out by Texeira at first, followed by a ball caught in foul territory, also by Texeira, quickly put two outs on the board. With a 3-2 count, the winning run was awarded home on a called fourth ball.

Game Two: FIU 6, FGCU 4

Graves hit the 10-win mark for the first time in her career with a complete-game, seven-hit performance, while striking out a career-high nine batters.  Four Panthers grabbed multi-hit games, including Sanchez (2-for-3), freshman Gabby Spallone (2-for-3), Graves (2-for-4) and senior Bre Kaye (2-for-4), whose stolen base (16) in the second inning moved her into fourth place in the conference.

Three first inning walks allowed the Panthers to take a 2-0 lead. With two on and one out,Spallone drove in one run off an RBI single to left field. Graves drove in FIU's second run of the inning off a single laced to center field. The Eagles pulled ahead and took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the frame with the help of a two-run home run.

A four-run second inning for FIU began with a two-run triple from Sanchez, her team-leading third this season. Junior Krystal Garcia roped her 10th double later in the inning, which gave FIU a 6-3 lead. 

Graves continued dealing, holding the Eagles to just one run and two hits from the fourth inning on.

FIU returns to C-USA action this weekend, traveling to rival Florida Atlantic for a three-game set. Game one is set for 4:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on Fox Sports.

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/.