MIAMI, FL – FIU Softball continued to dominate through the Panther Invitational by winning all their games through the championship. Although they dropped the final game, the Panthers had a phenomenal stretch with their pitching, allowing just seven runs in five matchups.
They currently own the 17th spot in D1Softball’s Mid-Major top-25 poll. FIU is off to its best start in program history with a 13-3 after this past weekend’s Panther Invitational tournament.
makin’ HISTORY 📚 pic.twitter.com/tmhtiUzmrp
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 23, 2026
Friday Doubleheader
FIU started the Panther Invitational with back-to-back shutouts against Florida A&M and Eastern Illinois.
In the third inning against the Rattlers, the Panthers loaded up the bases. The first runner came after Kendall Catherwood and Cayce Kavakich converted on a double steal with Kavakich scoring. Leah Clark scored Catherwood on a sac fly, and Kennedy Byrd hit an RBI groundout to give her program the 3-0 lead.
Byrd got her second RBI in the fifth inning. Then, Janelle Martinez and Paige Miller each produced runs with their own knocks to give FIU a 6-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Sammy Zelenka got hit by a pitch to make it 7-0. Moments later, Catherwood drew a walk to finish the game 8-0 via mercy rule.
highlights from the win over Florida A&M 📹 pic.twitter.com/rtyhdrN930
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 20, 2026
Byrd got the start for the Panthers. In her first three innings, she allowed just one baserunner. She ended up tossing a five-inning complete game shutout, allowing three hits and a walk. Byrd struck out three hitters on 60 pitches. It was the second time in her career that she threw a complete game with three hits or fewer allowed. The other time came in her no-hitter against Kennesaw State last season.
Against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, FIU got off to a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to an RBI single from Martinez. In the second inning, Catherwood knocked in another run with a hit, scoring Daley Alsobrook.
Brooke McNichols was effective all game long. She threw 1-2-3 innings in the final two innings. McNichols recorded her second straight complete game home shutout. The senior allowed four hits and had five strikeouts, matching a career high from last season.
DOMINANT. OUTING. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HJOWgtK7ve
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 21, 2026
In the sixth, the Panthers got another run courtesy of Kally Meredith bunting to the pitcher and beating out the throw at first. FIU won the game 3-0 and got to 11-2 on the season, their best start since 2001.
Saturday Doubleheader
FIU continued its run in the Panther Invitational against Incarnate Word and Eastern Illinois.
Martinez gave FIU an early 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single. The Incarnate Word Cardinals then tied it up in the third inning with an RBI single as well.
In the bottom of the frame, they got their go-ahead runs with an RBI single from Byrd and an RBI double from Clark to give FIU a 3-1 advantage. In the last inning, the Cardinals got a run, but J’dah Girigorie sealed the win with consecutive outs while runners were on base.
TEAM EFFORT for the FINAL OUT 👏 pic.twitter.com/9bCqtvX5Zk
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 21, 2026
Girigorie got the complete game victory, surrendering nine hits and two earned runs on 84 pitches. This was her third complete game win of the season.
Meredith led FIU with three hits and two runs. The Panthers put up 10 hits and hit .385 as a team in the game.
check out some highlights from last night's win over EIU, we will face off again TONIGHT at around 6 p.m. 📹 pic.twitter.com/zhH7sDL4rQ
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 21, 2026
Meagan Villazon allowed a three-run home run in the first inning against Eastern Illinois, but FIU responded almost immediately. After a leadoff triple from Meredith, she scored on a sac fly from Clark. Kaleena Downing scored Riley Silvers with a single in the second.
KD DELIVERS AN RBI SINGLE🫡 pic.twitter.com/omXey4Yj19
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 21, 2026
Eastern Illinois extended its lead to 4-2 in the fourth. In the same inning, the Panthers scored their winning runs. Silvers hit a two-run home run, the first of her career. In a tied game, Clark hit an RBI single after Meredith walked and stole second. Afterwards, Byrd hit a two-run home run to cap off a five-run inning, making it a 7-4 game for FIU.
WATCH IT FLY ROO 🫡 pic.twitter.com/sLjFvYtqTa
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 22, 2026
Villazon surrendered just two baserunners in the last three innings. Earning the win, she tossed 7.0 innings with five strikeouts, allowing four earned runs and four hits in 116 pitches.
Meredith, Silvers, and Bryd had a pair of hits each. Clark, Byrd, and Silvers each had a couple of RBIs. Meredith extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
Championship Game
Unfortunately, FIU suffered its first home loss of the season in the Panther Invitational Championship against Incarnate Word. Despite the loss, Kennedy Byrd dominated in the circle.
She tossed seven innings, allowing three hits and an earned run with five strikeouts on 66 pitches. The Cardinals were held hitless for the first 3.2 innings of the contest until they hit a solo homer.
The Panthers outhit their opponent with six hits. Leah Clark and Paige Miller each had a pair. Clark hit a triple in the game and is currently on a six-game hitting streak. Kally Meredith reached base twice, with a hit and a walk. She has an 11-game hitting streak and a 16-game on-base streak.
QUEEN KALLY ROBS A HIT 🚫 pic.twitter.com/duiQ4b0ABh
— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) February 22, 2026
Their 13-3 record surpassed their previous best 16-game start of 12-4 set in 2001.
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