Panthers Get Swept by Gamecocks in Doubleheader

MIAMI, FL – After getting the program to its most historic start ever, FIU Softball is now on a four-game losing streak. The Conference USA-leading Jacksonville State came into town and completely slowed down the Panthers.

FIU spent the majority of the series playing from behind against Jax State. After getting swept by the Gamecocks in today’s doubleheader, the Panthers are now searching for answers as they have lost seven of their last eight.

Game One

Brooke McNichols took the circle in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader. In the second, Aria Davis hit it out of the park to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 edge.

After a quiet inning for FIU at the plate, Jacksonville State scored two additional runs in the third. Morgan Nowakowski hit a sac fly, and Kailey Martin hit an RBI single.

McNichols retired the side to start the fourth, and then the Panthers put up a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame. Paige Miller hit an RBI groundout, her 10th run driven in on the season.

FIU totaled hits as a team. Kally Meredith had two of them, and Jensen Luke contributed with a hit as well. McNichols went the distance, allowing five hits, three earned runs, and three bases on balls on two strikeouts. Leah Clark stole two bases.

LEAH with her SECOND STEAL of the game 💨 pic.twitter.com/g350HiTgbB

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) March 28, 2026

Game Two

Kennedy Byrd got the start for FIU in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Amber Reed put Jacksonville State on the board first with an RBI single.

In the bottom half, Byrd hit her seventh home run of the season, which was a two-run jack, putting the Panthers up 2-1.

ROO TWO-RUN JACK 💥 pic.twitter.com/1jFsSSacgo

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) March 28, 2026

That lead would evaporate quickly as the Gamecocks answered right back with a pair of runs in the second to take the lead for good. Haleigh Cushingberry hit an RBI single, and Emma Elrod hit an unassisted groundout for them.

After the Panthers failed to respond with runs, Jax State got back to work and scored three more times in the third. Their first run came on a wild pitch, then Ashley Phillips doubled, and Jaci Underwood singled to drive in the final run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Grace Heilbling gave the Panthers their third run on a single, but that wasn’t enough. The Gamecocks came back with another run in the seventh after an RBI single from Davis.

FIU’s best chance to make a pivotal comeback came in the final inning. Following an RBI single from Cayce Kavakich, which made the game 7-4, they were able to load up the bases. Unfortunately, the Panthers ended the game on back-to-back fielder’s choices.

The Panthers were sloppy defensively at times, totaling three errors. Impressively, they didn’t strike out in the game, but the problem for them was not bringing in more runners’ to score.

Despite the eight hits, they left nine runners on the basepaths. In situations with runners in scoring position, they went 3/12 in those at-bats.

On Deck

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