MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2015) – The FIU softball team (9-5) wrapped up a chilly first day in the Madeira Beach Invitational with a 6-5 win over Wichita State, marking a perfect 2-0 start for day one of the tournament.
 
Junior Corinne Jenkins registered her fifth complete game this season, striking out three and allowing just five hits through seven innings.
 
Sophomore Stephanie Texeira (2-for-3) drew first blood for the Panthers, sending a three-run shot to the parking lot in the third inning. Junior Aleima Lopez (2-for-3) gave FIU the game-winning hit in the sixth inning via a two-RBI double. Also tallying a multi-hit game was senior Krystal Garcia (2-for-3)
 
The Shockers were able to jump out to a quick 1-0 lead from Melanie Jeagers' solo-shot in the first inning. Jenkins limited the damage to just one run, as freshman Ashley Belans recorded the final two putouts of the frame. Wichita State then manufactured its second run with help in large part to the speed of Layne Greenlee.
 
Junior Aleima Lopez started the Panthers off nicely with a double that just missed clearing the fence to lead off the bottom of the third. After senior Rebekah Sanchez beat out in infield hit to put runners on the corners, Lopez was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice. With two away and the count full, Texeira sent a no-doubter over the wall in center field, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Gabby Spallone, who homered in FIU's first game of the day, then doubled down the line in right but was left stranded.
 
Wichita State was able to tie the game up at 3-3 in the top of the fourth with some help from FIU. After reaching on a hit-by-pitch, Liz Boyles came around to score on a two-out error in the outfield, allowing her to score from first base. FIU again gifted the Shockers the momentary go-ahead run in the fifth inning, courtesy of an error and passed ball.
 
Jenkins settled Wichita State in the sixth inning, sitting two down looking and sending FIU to the plate in the bottom of the frame with its power hitters coming to bat. Texeira doubled to the wall in left, nearly missing home run No. 2 of the game, to lead off. Redshirt sophomore Marisa McGregor, who came into the game to run for Texeira, came around to score on senior Krystal Garcia's game-tying single to right field. Lopez provided her counterpart in the battery some insurance off a bases-clearing, two-RBI double that scraped the wall in center field, giving FIU a 6-4 lead. A two-out, solo home run by Wichita State in the top of the seventh brought the game within one.
 
The Panthers are back in action tomorrow with a pair against Columbia at 1:30 pm and Texas State at 4 pm.
 
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 the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers 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 contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.