FIU Softball Signing Tracker

With Mike Larabee retiring during the offseason, the FIU Panthers hired new head coach Olivia Watkins to take over the program after posting a 34-18 record last season. Here is the ongoing FIU Softball signing tracker.

Sulexy Falcon – The First Academy

Falcon is a shortstop from Kissimmee. She played in 25 games last year for The First Academy, batting .461 with 23 runs, 35 hits, 28 RBI, nine doubles, four triples, and 20 stolen bases.

Sulexy checking in with Panther Nation 🗣️ https://t.co/w46S1fKzOy pic.twitter.com/VsmuvO0C6m

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 15, 2026

As a junior in 2025, she made 24 appearances, hitting .411 with 22 runs, 30 hits, 12 RBI, six doubles, a pair of triples, and nine stolen bases. In her sophomore season, Sulexy Falcon played in 26 games, batting .383 with 25 runs, 31 hits, 23 RBI, six doubles, and 18 stolen bases.

Gabby Gonzalez – St. John Vianney

Gonzalez is an infielder from Hazlet, New Jersey. As a senior last season, she hit .500 and slugged .980, with 51 hits, 43 RBI, 13 doubles, 12 home runs, and three stolen bases. In 2025, she batted .406 and slugged .667, collecting 21 runs, 28 hits, 19 RBI, nine doubles, three homers, and a pair of stolen bases.

Gabby’s first message to the Panther fam 🎙️ https://t.co/bLZyPtSKxq pic.twitter.com/u8T2waOAzd

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 16, 2026

Gabby Gonzalez hit .500 with a .933 slugging percentage, totaling 47 runs, 45 hits, 39 RBI, nine doubles, 10 homers, and five stolen bases. During her freshman season in 2023, she posted 36 runs, 40 hits, 41 RBI, eight doubles, three triples, 11 homers, a .513 average, and a 1.115 slugging percentage. Gonzalez is a three-time state champion and a three-time First Team All-State.

Angeline Mergen – Park Vista

Mergen is an infielder/outfielder from Lake Worth. She played in 22 games as a senior, slashing .522/.582/.942 with 31 runs, 36 hits, 23 RBI, five doubles, nine triples, two homers, and 27 stolen bases. As a junior, Mergen slashed .438/.500/.750 with 20 runs, 28 hits, 18 RBI, two doubles, six triples, a couple of home runs, and 14 stolen bases.

a quick message from Angeline 💙 https://t.co/putSjk3bDW pic.twitter.com/u7jRm4hsMs

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 17, 2026

Angeline Mergen had an average of .393 in 2024 and a total of 24 runs, 35 hits, 15 RBI, three doubles, three triples, and 14 stolen bases. As a freshman in 2023, she hit .412 with 34 runs, 35 hits, 16 RBI, two triples, and 15 stolen bases. Mergen has earned First Team All-Palm Beach honors.

Mackenzie Ventura – Riverdale

Jenelle Cruz – St. Johns

Cruz is a shortstop from Pembroke Pines. She played in 68 games this past season for St. Johns River State College, recording 81 hits, 74 runs, 72 RBI, 21 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 32 stolen bases and a slash line of .382/.496/.792. Cruz was an NJCAA All-American.

Jenelle’s quick message to Panther Nation 🎥 https://t.co/ErYM8EiWBy pic.twitter.com/YDaNdg0MeZ

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 20, 2026

As a freshman in 2025, she played in 66 games, totaling 101 hits, 60 runs, 48 RBI, 24 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a .468/.504/.662 slash line. Jenelle Cruz played at West Broward High School, where she also played basketball.

Jayla Fuller – Rutgers

Fuller is a 5’6 outfielder from Conyers, Georgia. She had a .398 on-base percentage for Rutgers last season. Fuller made the #7 play on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 Plays, robbing Michigan State of a home run. As a freshman in 2025, she had eight hits, five doubles, three RBI, and five runs scored.

Jayla checking in from the CRIB 🏡 https://t.co/F3A0dZ7fbd pic.twitter.com/ZDpF8joER4

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 27, 2026

Jayla Fuller graduated from Heritage High School in 2024, where she was named Defensive Player of the Year and Rising Star Award Offensive Award MVP. She was also a four-time All-Region selection after posting batting averages of .453 as a freshman, .515 as a sophomore, and .535 in both her junior and senior seasons. Fuller played club softball for D1Vision.

Destiny Washington – Central Florida

Washington is a 5’4 outfielder from Fort Lauderdale. As a redshirt sophomore at UCF last spring, she hit .314/.415/.371 with 11 runs, two doubles, 13 total bases, six walks, five RBI, and three stolen bases. In 2024, Washington hit .336/.391/.422 with 18 runs, seven doubles, one home run, 49 total bases, 11 walks, seven stolen bases, and 13 RBI.

welcome BACK to SoFlo 🌴

– .331 career average in 77 games
– made NCAA Regional and Super Regionals with UCF
– Fort Lauderdale Native pic.twitter.com/aHXlkD8uZz

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) July 30, 2026

Kiara Bellido – Syracuse

Bellido is a 5’5 catcher from Brooklyn. She played in 15 games last season for Syracuse after not playing in 2025. Bellido was named to the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

welcome to the Panther Fam Kiara 😼

– First Team All-State / Player of the Year in NY
– ACC Experience pic.twitter.com/qLczNgDj0s

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) August 10, 2026

Kiara Bellido graduated from William Floyd High School in 2024. She was named Suffolk County Player of the Year in 2023, a three-time All-County selection from 2021-23, and two-time Field Player of the Year from 2022-23. Bellido played club softball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts, Georgia Impact, and Nebraska Gold.

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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