MIAMI (April 19, 2015) – A Sunday afternoon pitchers' duel fell in the FIU softball team's (27-22, 8-13 C-USA) favor, as the Panthers used two runs in the fifth inning to top the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers, 2-1, in the final game of a three-game series.
 
Junior Corinne Jenkins (17-9) had arguably her strongest game in the circle this season, as the Panthers' ace went the distance and limited a potent Lady Toppers to just four hits and one run, while striking out five.
 
The Panthers and Lady Toppers traded 1-2-3 innings in the first inning, with freshman Jessica Hallett going across the diamond for a tough put-out of a speedy Larissa Franklin. WKU put three-straight on to open the top of the second inning, but Jenkins labored and kept the game scoreless. After picking up a crucial first out via a strikeout, freshman Ashley Belans climbed the ladder to pull in a bouncing grounder for the force-out at home plate. Jenkins then punched out Brooke Holloway looking to strand three Lady Toppers.
 
WKU wasn't able to tag Jenkins for a hit until the third inning, but Hallett flashed some more leather in the inning to bring in a foul ball and keep the game scoreless.  Sophomore Stephanie Texeira helped Jenkins out in the fourth inning, robbing Shawna Sadler of a would-be base hit with a backhanded grab for the unassisted putout at first base.
 
FIU's best chance of the day came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Texeira took first on a pitch that hit her, while an error on the Lady Toppers' second baseman during junior Aleima Lopez' at bat put two on with one out. Belans made good contact on a fielder's choice, but WKU's third baseman played it cleanly by the bag for the force out.
 
WKU broke a scoreless game in the top of the fifth and went ahead 1-0 but FIU's ace forced a shallow fly out to left field that senior Rebekah Sanchez was able to bring in and strand two Lady Toppers.
 
Hallett put the Panthers on her back in the bottom of the frame and blasted her first career home run to tie the game at 1-1, which also served as FIU's first hit of the game. After Sanchez worked a two-out walk, she stole second and moved into scoring position for sophomore Gabby Spallone. Down 1-2 in the count, Spallone tagged Kramer's offering to right field for the go-ahead run for the Panthers.
 
Jenkins worked a quick two outs in the seventh inning before the Lady Toppers were able to draw back-to-back walks to load the bases. Junior Dominque Grossman brought in a deep foul ball in right field to secure the victory.
 
The Panthers have a week off from league play to host the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles for a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch on Senior Day is set for 2 p.m. from Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.
 
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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/.