MIAMI (Feb. 12, 2016) -- FIU took 10^th-ranked Florida State to a one-all tie into the sixth inning, but the Seminoles scored six late unanswered runs in a 7-1 result to end day one of the Juiceblendz FIU Invitational softball tournament Friday night at Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium. The game was the second of the day for Florida State and the season-opening game for the host Panthers.
 
FIU starting pitcher and senior Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS) and FSU starter Jessica Burroughs were negotiating through the opposing lineups well in the early going, with each giving up a single unearned run in the first four innings.
 
Jenkins' run scored against her in the third after a throwing error allowed a run on a sacrifice fly by FSU's Jessica Warren.
 
FIU answered to tie the game in the top of the fourth when Ashley Belans (Hollywood, Florida / American Heritage HS) drove in Gabby Spallone (Miami, Florida / Palmetto HS) from third on a sacrifice fly in the frame. An earlier throwing error kept the run from being earned against Burroughs.
 
FIU almost grabbed the first lead of the game in the fifth, but the Panther runner was thrown out at home trying to score a second run in the game.
 
The Seminoles retook the lead in the sixth with another unearned run after a throwing error allowed the second FSU runner across the plate.
 
The Seminoles plated five in the seventh and final inning after a single, walk and triple against Jenkins to end her day. Abby Summers (Weston, Missouri) came on in relief and allowed two hits and two runs before retiring the side.
 
FIU second baseman Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Auburn Univ.) led all players in the game with three hits. Spallone and catcher Aleima Lopez (Deltona, Florida / Deltona HS) had two hits each.
 
Jenkins was tagged with five runs, three of them earned, in the loss (0-1). She allowed five walks and recorded four strikeouts.
 
Burroughs went the distance (1-0), allowing eight hits and a walk, with the one unearned run. She struck out eight batters.
 
The Panthers will play two games on Saturday, with a date against St. John's at 5:30 p.m., followed by a game with Illinois at 7:30 p.m. The tournament concludes Sunday with the Panthers playing twice to finish the day against LIU-Brooklyn and Valparaiso, starting at 1 p.m.
 
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/.