FIU Softball Continues to Make Strides at Florida Classic

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GAINESVILLE, FL – The FIU Softball program finished the past weekend with another successful tournament run. Facing tougher opponents, they went 3-2 overall at the Florida Classic, hosted by the University of Florida.

The Panthers have played as advertised, starting the season 9-2. Off to their best start since 2001, FIU Softball continues to make strides, as shown at the Florida Classic.

Day One: Friday Doubleheader

FIU’s start at the tournament against Marshall could not have gone any worse for them.

J’dah Girigorie started in the opener at The Swamp, and Marshall’s hitters knocked her out of the game early on after scoring four first-inning runs. Meagan Villazon provided some ease in relief, allowing a pair of earned runs while posting four strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

The Panthers totaled just four hits in the game, with Isabella Perez going 2/2. The Thundering Herd soundly won 7-0.

FINAL | Marshall 7, FIU 0 pic.twitter.com/iYsjuKodaj

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 13, 2026

In their second game against Georgia Tech, FIU struggled out of the gates in what seemed to be a continuation of their previous game.

Kennedy Byrd (3-0) got the ball to start in the circle, and the Yellow Jackets attacked on offense, scoring five runs in the first pair of innings. However, she got back in rhythm and didn’t allow them to score any more runs.

Hitting-wise, the Panthers were quiet until the fourth inning. Leah Clark battled through a 12-pitch at-bat, which ended in a solo home run, her first of the 2026 season.

Behind by four runs in the fifth inning, FIU was able to score three runs. Kally Meredith had an RBI bunt single, and it was followed by an RBI double, courtesy of Zamya McBurrows. Byrd capped off the inning with an RBI via a Georgia Tech error, scoring McBurrows.

Byrd tossed scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth. She allowed four hits and struck out two hitters in six innings of work.

In the seventh inning, the Panthers pulled off their amazing comeback. Meredith and McBurrows hit back-to-back singles. Then came Byrd, and she drove in Meredith with a single to tie the game at five apiece. Clark then drove in McBurrows with FIU’s fourth consecutive single. The Panthers found themselves with the 6-5 advantage.

Girigorie came in to record the last three outs, and she was able to secure her third save of the season.

Day Two: Saturday Doubleheader

FIU brought their energy from the previous day against the Yellow Jackets. Meredith tripled to lead off for them and then scored via a double from McBurrows. Leah Clark then hit a sacrifice fly to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the first.

Meredith then got a base hit in the second to drive in Martinez. Georgia Tech was able to score two runs off of Brooke McNichols in the second, but she kept them scoreless for the next four innings.

Clark laid down a bunt in the seventh inning to score McBurrows for a 4-2 lead. Then, Martinez scored two more on a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner Jordyn Kinn and Clark after an erratic throw was made.

After McNichols ran into some trouble up 6-2 in the seventh, Villazon was placed in the game, and she was able to earn her first win of the season. McNichols tossed six innings on 79 pitches and recorded two strikeouts.

HAVE. A. DAY. BROOKE. MCNICHOLS.

6⃣ IP
2⃣ ER
1⃣ Win pic.twitter.com/KyNDQ42Lyf

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 14, 2026

Meredith, McBurrows, Clark, Paige Miller, and Kendall Catherwood each had multi-hit games to account for FIU’s 10 hits. This win put them at 4-0 against Power Conference schools, which was the first time they had won their first four games against P4 programs.

The Panthers continued their Saturday afternoon against fifth-ranked Florida. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-RBI single from Martinez, which drove in Meredith and McBurrows.

Girigorie got the start, but she allowed the Gators to score four runs in the first inning. Down 4-2, FIU got back on track with a three-run second inning. Kally Meredith and Zamya McBurrows each delivered with RBI singles, and McBurrows scored on an error from Florida.

In the next half of the inning, the Gators responded with a two-run blast to retake a 6-5 lead. Janelle Martinez then tied the game at six after she belted a solo home run in the third inning.

Unfortunately, FIU would not score again. UF hit consecutive home runs in the bottom of the third to go up 9-6. They then went on to score five more unanswered runs to ultimately win it via mercy rule, 14-6.

FINAL (6) | No. 5 Florida 14, FIU 6

proud of our fight against a top-five team 🫡 pic.twitter.com/dxRn3Jglei

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 14, 2026

Meredith, McBurrows, Martinez, and Perez each had multi-hit games, but the effort wasn’t enough. It was a tough day in the circle for FIU pitching. Girigorie ended up allowing six earned runs, while Villazon and Megan Krueger each allowed four runs.

Day Three: FIU Gets Revenge Against Marshall

Kennedy Byrd made her second start of the weekend, earning a complete game victory while allowing an earned run, five hits on 104 pitches, and posting three strikeouts.

Both programs traded runs in the first inning. Leah Clark delivered with an RBI single to tie the game at one apiece. Pitching and fielding dominated the second through fifth innings, with both squads combining for three hits during that time span.

FIU got the runs they needed in the sixth thanks to some critical blunders made on Marshall’s end. Kally Meredith dropped down a bunt and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Zamya McBurrows then sacrificed a bunt to shift Meredith to third. Meredith then scored on a wild pitch, showcasing her base-running skills throughout the inning.

Moments later, Byrd hit a double to left field and was able to advance to third base on the throw. She would then eventually score on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.

The Thundering Herd started the final inning with a base runner, but an FIU double play prevented them from getting anything going. Byrd secured her fourth win of the season.

electric outing from ROO today ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/y8kGgbqghU

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 15, 2026

D1Softball Mid-Major Rankings

The Panthers climbed up the D1Softball Mid-Major Rankings, moving to 11th on the poll. They remain the highest-ranked team in Conference USA.

climbin’ the polls 🧗‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/l2ASOjsyd0

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 16, 2026

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