GULF SHORES, Ala. (Feb. 8, 2015) – The FIU softball team (4-2) wrapped up the Sand Dollar Classic with a 7-0 win over the Houston Baptist Huskies on Sunday morning.

Junior hurler Corinne Jenkins improved to 4-0 and lowered her ERA to 1.15 in the effort, while her four strikeouts upped her season total to 21, while allowing no hits to the Huskies. Sophomore Brianna Bartuccio made her Panther debut in relief for Jenkins and went two scoreless innings.

Sophomores Stephanie Texeira (2-for-2) and Gabby Spallone (1-for-3) each had 2-RBI games for the Panthers, while sophomore Ashley Leon went 2-for-3 and picked up her fourth stolen base of the season.

With one on and two away in the bottom of the first, a Panther error in the infield put two Huskies in scoring position, but Jenkins was able to get Houston Baptist's Libby Brown to go down swinging to escape the inning.

After failing to capitalize off a two-out double by Texeira in the first inning, the Panthers broke a scoreless game in the second after senior Krystal Garcia led off with a stand-up double to right-center field. A sacrifice fly by junior Dominique Grossman granted Garcia the opportunity to tag-up and take third, but a costly throwing error by the Huskies allowed Garcia to take home.

Freshman Jessica Hallett was able to help Jenkins out in the second inning by turning a 5-3 double-play to erase Houston Baptists' second two-on threat of the game. FIU put up a 3-spot to break the game open in the third inning and took a 4-0 lead. Redshirt sophomore Marisa McGregor led off the frame with a chopper up the middle, while the speedy Leon reached on a bunt single. After Texeira drew a walk, Spallone plated McGregor on a 4-3 put-out and Garcia's sacrifice fly allowed Leon to touch home. Senior Shelby Graves collected FIU's third double of the game to score the Panthers' fourth run.

FIU put up another three runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. With two in scoring position, Texeira singled to the left fielder, which drove in two runs.

FIU now turns its attention to its home opener on Friday, Feb. 13, as the Panthers will host the FIU Invitational.

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 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 contributes $8.9 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/.