Liberty Defeats Panthers in Series Opener

MIAMI, FL – FIU got on the board first in this game, but J’Dah Girigorie was contested at times in her start. Kennedy Byrd looked great at first in relief yet fell off towards the end of her appearance. With no real offensive response, the Liberty Flames single-handedly defeated the Panthers 7-2 in the series opener.

Panthers Struggle with Runners on Base

The Panthers opened up the scoring in the first. Kally Meredith walked, Byrd singled, and Janelle Martinez walked to load up the bases with no outs. Leah Clark got hit by a pitch, which scored the first run. Unfortunately, that was all FIU would get in the inning as Paige Miller lined out into a double play and Isabella Perez flew out.

In the top half of the second, Maci Strikland hit one out of the park to tie things up for the Flames. Then, in the bottom of the second, Kendall Catherwood scored for the Panthers on a passed ball, giving them the lead back.

Girigorie took the foot off the gas pedal a bit in the fourth. She issued two walks to Liberty, and they made her pay. Paige Doerr hit a big two-run triple to give Liberty a 3-2 lead.

Girigorie had trouble at times finding the strike zone, throwing just 39 strikes out of 68 pitches. She gave up three runs and three hits while facing 18 batters in four innings pitched.

J'Dah Girigorie has been pulled from her start. She did have a bit of trouble finding the strike zone, throwing just 39 strikes out of 68 pitches. She faced 18 hitters.

4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Kennedy Byrd is now in the circle #FIU #Panthers #PawsUp

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 17, 2026

Byrd came in relief and was all around efficient until the seventh. The Flames went up 4-2 after they did a double steal at second and home. Then, Alexia Carrasquillo hit a three-run homer to put Liberty up 7-2. Byrd tossed three innings, surrendering two hits, four runs, and three walks on two strikeouts.

FIU struggled to bring additional runners home, stranding 10 on the basepaths and hitting .214 in the game with runners on base. The Panthers had just five hits in the game, and Martinez led the team with stranded five runners.

Final
Liberty 7 | FIU 2

The Panthers hit just .214 with runners on base#FIU #Panthers #PawsUp

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 18, 2026

About Post Author

Ricardo Urrusuno

He’s a diehard 305 native who roots for his hometown teams in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, he graduated from FIU with an MBA, but now he’s a Lemonhead covering UM basketball. Known to be anywhere and everywhere, you may catch him at a Miami sporting event.

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