MIAMI – FIU softball head coach Mike Larabee has announced the addition of four players to the Panthers' program beginning with the 2023 season, including a pair of pitchers along with an infielder and outfielder.
 
Included in the incoming student-athletes are Frankie Izard/OF (St. Joseph, Ill.), Sydney Birling/P (Appleton, Wis.), Ashton Lansdell/INF (Marietta, Ga.) and Megan Kruger/P (Wendell, N.C.).
 
Izard is a senior outfielder who joins the Panthers following two seasons at the University of Louisiana and two at Lake Land (Ill.) College.  She appeared in a total of 19 games last season, while making three starts for the Ragin' Cajuns.  During the 2021 campaign, Izard saw action in 26 games, primarily as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, while posting a .630 on base percentage by reaching base in 17 of her 27 plate appearances.  She was a 2021 Sun Belt Academic Commissioner's List honoree.
 
She enjoyed immediate success at Lake Land (Ill.) College, completing her two-year stay (2019-20) at the Matoon, Ill.-based college with the program's top career batting average (.510) and on base percentage (.551).  In addition, she accumulated 127 runs scored, 171 hits, 76 RBI and 42 stolen bases.
 
Izard was honored as the NJCAA Division I Region 24 Player of the Year award and was a NFCA All-Midwest Region and All-American.
 
Birling (RHP) arrives at FIU following a solid prep career as a pitcher at Fox Valley Lutheran High School (Wis.) and two seasons at Bryant & Stratton College in Wauwatosa, Wis. 
 
During her time at Bryant & Stratton, Birling helped lead Bryant & Stratton to the 2022 Region 4B Championship and was recognized as the 2021 NJCAA National Player of the Year.
 
She posted a two-year record of 46-10 on the mound with a 1.33 earned run average.  She posted 23 wins in each of her two seasons with the Bobcats while striking out 525 and issuing 106 walks.
 
During her senior season at Fox Valley Lutheran, Birling posted the nation's second-best ERA at 0.97 and her 281 strikeouts were the fifth-most nationwide.  She was a three-time all-conference selection.  As a junior she registered a 1.67 ERA (7^th best in nation) and 244 strikeouts (3^rd best in nation).
 
Lansdell is an infielder who played baseball as opposed to softball during her high school and junior college career.  She was a member of the gold-medal winning (Pan American Games) 2019 USA Women's National Baseball Team and played prep at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., where she helped guide the Wildcats to the 2019 Baseball Regional Title.  Lansdell was the youngest player to make the USA Baseball roster in 2018 at 17 years old.
 
At the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby X, Lansdell ripped 15 home runs and went 7-for-17 (.412) with a double, four triples, seven runs, and six RBI during a five-game series vs. Canada, including a 4-for-5 game with two triples in the series opener.
 
She played one season of baseball at Georgia Highlands College, where she was the first female to play baseball at the NJCAA level.  Lansdell was also the first female to open a Georgia 7A regional game as the starting pitcher.
 
Kruger is a right-handed pitcher from Raleigh, N.C., who enjoyed a solid prep career at Wake Forest (N.C.) High School where she helped lead the Cougars to the 2022 conference championship.  She was a two-time player of the week honoree and was a four-time Academic All-Conference choice.  She played club ball for NC Challengers
 
COACH MIKE LARABEE ON NEW SIGNEES
Frankie Izard
"Frankie will bring a big bat and speed to our lineup. She is a very tough out and can go and run down a ball in the outfield.  She is a dynamic player and I expect great things from her this year."
 
Sydney Birling
"Sydney is a left-handed pitcher who controls the strike zone and has averaged just under 13 strikeouts per game. A two time All-American, she is going to be a big part of our pitching staff this coming year."
 
Ashton Lansdell
"I'm so excited to see Ashton transition from baseball to softball. She is a very talented athlete who can play a variety of positions. She is a five-tool player that can hit for average and power.  She has great speed and can play a high level of catch."
 
Megan Kruger
"Megan is a right-handed power pitcher that throws in the mid-60's. She is a very hard worker and is determined to make a big impact in helping FIU softball get to the top of C-USA."
 
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