MIAMI – The FIU softball team gets things rolling for the 2023 season on Thursday night against Clemson in a 5:30 p.m. ET first pitch at Felsberg Field to open the four-team Felsberg Invitational – which will see the Panthers play a total of five games over a four-day stretch.

The Panthers features a total of 11 newcomers on this season's roster, including eight freshmen.  FIU returns 10 letterwinners from the 2022 squad and lost a total of 16 players.

Overall, the Panthers will play a total of 22 games, including three tournaments, over the first month of the season – 16 of those contests will be played on their home field.

FIUSports.com sat down with FIU head coach Mike Larabee this week as preseason practice begins to wind down to get his assessment of where the Panthers stand as they head into the 2023 campaign.

PITCHING
"Pitching is kind of the name of the game, if you have a strong staff they are going to keep you in every game.  We have three freshmen and a junior college transfer.  Right now, I couldn't say who our number one is, they are still battling that out.

One thing that I was impressed with from when we started out until now, one week out of the season, is that as a group their location has gotten a lot better.  Most of the staff has their changeups where they need to be.  They aren't going to overpower many teams, but I think they will do a good job of keeping hitters off balance and changing speeds.  I think they compliment each other very well.  Sydney Birling, a left hander, is probably our hardest thrower.  Ella Whitney has a great drop ball and changeup.  Megan Kruger also has a really nice change up and can throw a rise and a curve.  Brooke McNichols is probably the pitcher with the best current changeup and can spin the call really well.

I feel like we are miles ahead of where we were a year ago, especially as far as our depth goes.  So we are really excited.  Coach Alvelo has done a terrific job working with them since the summer."

CATCHERS
"Freshman Isabella Perez and junior Carmen Perez will do the majority of the catching.  We also have Kaleena Downing who we are working with at the position as an emergency receiver.  Isabella is a polished left-handed hitter who swings the bat really well.  I was really impressed with how she put the ball in play in the fall season.  Possesses a really good arm and clocks right around a 1.8 from home to second.  Carmen Perez caught a lot last season, so she brings back that experience for us at the position.  She can play the outfield as well, which adds versatility to her game."

SPEED
"Our team speed this year is much improved and I wanted to give credit to our strength training coach Mateo Agudelo.  Last season we had two players who could run from home to first in under three seconds, this season we have 12.  From home to home, anything in the 11's is pretty quick, and we have eight players that can run under 12 and two that can run it under 11.  With 60-foot bases there really is so much more you can do as a coach to push the envelope.  We got a lot more athletic, which is really exciting, and this will probably be the fastest team that I have ever coached."

INFIELD
"Going around the diamond at third base we are looking at Kaleena Downing and Makayla Navarro.  They will start off rotating on and off.  Ashton Lansdell, who converted from softball after playing baseball her entire athletic career, will open as the shortstop.  Amelia Varela is a phenomenal defensive player that can play short or second.  At second base right now we have both Makayla Navarro and Brooke McCann as well as Jianna Simonet, who returns from last season with experience.  We have a lot of depth in the middle of the infield, which we didn't have a year ago.  Morgan Adams and Abigail Brown are both seeing time at first base.  Adams is a big lefty bat who has really good feet around the bag and picks well.  Abby (Brown) has done a really good at picking up the position after playing primarily at third base last season.  They are both doing a really good job."

OUTFIELD
"The outfield is where we have the most veteran presence and experience on the roster.  As it stands today, I would start Bailey Grossenbacher in left, Alexis Ross in center and one of our transfers, Frankie Izard in right.  We have a lot of depth, Madison Lewis is coming off an injury, so I am not sure when she will be ready to fully go, but she will be in the mix.  She might our designated player if she gets the go ahead.  Carmen Perez has been out there as I mentioned earlier.  Logan Turner is just learning the position, but she is coming on quick and swings the bat very well, so we are trying to open up some playing time for her.  Lindsey Burroughs has come a long way in her development.  Hanna Johanning swung the bat really well for us last year, so she will be a factor as well."

OVERALL
"I feel really good, the luxury we have as a spring sport is that we can bring in a junior college student-athlete or a transfer or a freshman and really school them up on our system.  We have had plenty of time, so I feel really good where we are at.  There will be things in the early tournament games that we will realize that we need to spend more time on.  The first tournaments we want to go out there and compete and be the best that we can be, but also figure out some areas where we have some weaknesses that we need to continue to practice on.  I like the versatility of our roster and it should allow us to spread around the playing time and keep us fresh and ready for when we enter Conference USA play.  We have speed in the outfield, and I really try to push them to show how much range they can cover.  Our infield is going to be completely new all around as well as a new pitching staff, so that is exciting.  We are building a program and all the experience they get is going to bode well for the future."

TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office

SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUSoftball), Twitter (@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news.