FIU Panthers (8-9)
Wednesday, Feb. 28
at Florida Atlantic (13-4), 4 p.m.
FIU Classic
Friday, March 1 - Sunday, March 3
Friday, March 1
vs. UIC (4-11), 12:30 p.m.
vs. Seton Hall (3-6), 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24
vs. North Dakota (3-13), 12:30 p.m.
vs. TBA, 3 p.m./5:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 3
vs. TBA, 11:30 a.m.
PANTHERS TRAVEL TO FACE FLORIDA ATLANTIC BEFORE HOSTING FIU CLASSIC
The Panthers will have a busy week in their return to South Florida this week with a total of six games over a five-day stretch beginning with a single road clash at rival Florida Atlantic on Wednesday afternoon in a 4 p.m. ET start in Boca Raton.
The action will continue at Felsberg Field this weekend with the FIU Classic beginning on Friday, March 1. UIC, Seton Hall and North Dakota will head to Miami to take part in the three-day event, which concludes on Sunday.
The Panthers will open play on Friday afternoon against UIC in a 12:30 p.m. start before facing Seton Hall later that evening in a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.
Saturday will also feature a full slate of games with the Panthers taking on North Dakota at 12:30 p.m. before playing at either 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. – pending the results of the event's previous games.
The Panthers will play their final game of the FIU Classic on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS VS. THIS WEEKEND'S FOES
The Panthers enter the week trailing the all-time series with Florida Atlantic – having played 104 times previously.
FIU leads the all-time series with UIC and North Dakota – and have never faced Seton Hall previously.
Florida Atlantic
Series: FIU trails, 41-63
H: 18-27, A: 22-33, N: 1-3
Current Streak: L5
| Date |
Site |
R |
Score |
| 2/25/98 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 2/25/98 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 4/7/98 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-4 |
| 4/7/98 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
3-0 |
| 4/30/98 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 2/6/99 |
Tampa, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 2/16/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 2/16/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 2/27/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
4-5 |
| 2/28/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-4 |
| 3/1/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
4-2 |
| 4/14/99 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-4 |
| 4/14/99 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 2/5/00 |
Tampa, Fla. |
L |
0-8 |
| 2/15/00 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 2/15/00 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
7-0 |
| 3/5/00 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-2 |
| 4/21/00 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
3-1 |
| 4/21/00 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 |
| 2/13/01 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
3-2 |
| 2/13/01 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
4-2 |
| 3/4/01 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 3/23/01 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
4-3 |
| 3/25/01 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-6 |
| 5/1/01 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 2/20/02 |
Miami, Fla |
L |
0-2 |
| 2/22/02 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 2/24/02 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 3/23/02 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-2 |
| 4/3/02 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
1-4 |
| 4/21/02 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 5/1/02 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
1-0 |
| 2/8/03 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-5 |
| 2/9/03 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
4-0 |
| 2/11/03 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 3/30/03 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 3/30/03 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
1-0 |
| 4/15/03 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 2/6/04 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 2/17/04 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 3/19/04 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
3-4 |
| 3/21/04 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-3 |
| 3/31/04 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-2 |
| 4/4/04 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 |
| 4/4/04 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 1/29/05 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
3-2 |
| 3/6/05 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 |
| 3/11/05 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 3/13/05 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 4/20/05 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
1-7 |
| 4/04/06 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-7 (9) |
| 5/03/06 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-8 |
| 5/04/07 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 5/04/07 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 |
| 5/05/07 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-7 |
| 5/09/07 |
Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
W |
12-9 |
| 5/11/07 |
Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
L |
0-4 |
| 4/9/08 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
4-7 |
| 5/2/08 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-8 |
| 5/3/08 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
10-1 |
| 3/8/09 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
4-3 (8) |
| 5/1/09 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
7-0 |
| 5/2/09 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 (9) |
| 4/14/10 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
3-2 |
| 5/7/10 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
3-4 (8) |
| 5/8/10 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
7-5 |
| 4/20/11 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 5/6/11 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
1-0 |
| 5/7/11 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
1-0 |
| 3/21/12 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-0 |
| 5/4/12 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
6-3 |
| 5/5/12 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-0 |
| 4/17/13 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
11-8 |
| 5/3/13 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
1-3 |
| 5/4/13 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-3 |
| 4/5/14 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 4/5/14 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
3-2 |
| 4/6/14 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
12-1 (5) |
| 3/28/15 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
4-2 |
| 3/28/15 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-5 |
| 3/29/15 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
3-0 |
| 4/9/16 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
1-4 |
| 4/9/16 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 4/10/16 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-4 |
| 4/1/17 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
5-1 |
| 4/1/17 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-4 |
| 4/2/17 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-5 |
| 4/7/18 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
6-1 |
| 4/7/18 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 4/8/18 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
5-1 |
| 4/6/19 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
2-5 |
| 4/6/19 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
11-9 |
| 4/7/19 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
5-2 |
| 2/21/21 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
7-5 |
| 3/21/21 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-8 |
| 4/1/21 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
8-0 |
| 4/1/21 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
3-7 |
| 4/2/21 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
W |
7-4 |
| 4/22/22 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-0 |
| 4/23/22 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
4-7 |
| 4/24/22 |
Miami, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 4/6/23 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-2 (10) |
| 4/7/23 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
| 4/8/23 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-1 |
UIC
Series: FIU leads 6-3
H: 4-0, A: 0-0, N: 2-3
Current Streak: W6
| Date |
Site |
R |
Score |
| 2/28/98 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
1-8 |
| 3/1/99 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
L |
0-8 |
| 3/16/00 |
Clearwater, Fla. |
L |
2-3 |
| 3/9/01 |
Tampa, Fla. |
W |
9-0 |
| 3/16/02 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
6-4 |
| 3/17/02 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-1 (8) |
| 3/18/06 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
1-0 |
| 2/13/10 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
| 2/17/12 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
5-4 |
North Dakota
Series: FIU leads 2-0
H: 1-0, A: 0-0, N: 1-0
Current Streak: W2
| Date |
Site |
R |
Score |
| 2/22/15 |
Madeira Beach, Fla. |
W |
15-2 |
| 3/8/19 |
Miami, Fla. |
W |
2-1 |
NEWCOMER COLLIER PEADEN OFF TO HOT START
Junior outfielder
Collier Peaden is off to a tremendous start in her first season at FIU as she currently sits in seventh in Conference USA and ranks 22nd in the nation with a .436 batting average. Her 24 hits rank as the 16th-best total nationally.
She has recorded at least one hit in eight of the last 10 games and has tabbed multiple hits in eight games this season – including a trio of three hit efforts.
She ripped a single to drive home the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth of the Panthers' 3-2 win over Rutgers on Feb. 17.
Peaden has totaled 24 hits in 16 games entering this week's action and has also recorded six stolen bases.
HOME COOKING TO START 2024
FIU concluded its season-opening 11-game homestand last weekend with four games at the Panther Invitational.
The Panthers opened the season with five games at the annual Felsberg Invitational before facing Louisville and North Florida in single contests.
The Panthers will then host their final of three tournaments with the FIU Classic on March 1-3. FIU will also open Conference USA play at home against Liberty (March 8-10).
In all, FIU will play each of its first 27 games in the state of Florida and 20 of those initial 27 at home.
The Panthers will play their first game away from the Sunshine State on Friday, March 15 at Western Kentucky.
GROSSENBACHER MASHING
FIU senior outfielder
Bailey Grossenbacher has not wasted any time establishing her presence offensively to open 2024.
She recorded at least one hit in each of the first six games this season – including a game-winning two-run homer against North Florida in the Panthers' most recent action on Feb. 14.
Grossenbacher has recorded a total of five extra-base hits (3 doubles/1 triple/1 HR) and has recorded 10 RBI over 14 games played – which ranks third in Conference USA.
MORE FROM ANOTHER NEWCOMER
FIU graduate transfer
Casey Goguts flashed a power bat over the opening weekend of the season as evidenced by six RBI over the opening six games of the season – she currently has eight which sits second on the squad and tied for 21st in CUSA
SPEED ON DISPLAY
The Panthers have already made a statement that they will once again be a threat on the basepaths in 2024.
FIU currently leads Conference USA with a total of 24 stolen bases – in 27 attempts. That is five more than the second-best total in CUSA – held by UTEP with 19, entering this week's action.
Ashton Lansdell (7-for-7) leads the Panthers and is followed by
Collier Peaden (6-for-7)
Makayla Navarro (5-for-5) and
Kally Meredith (4-for-5) in stolen base attempts.
The Panthers totaled 82 stolen bases last season – which ranked as the seventh-best single-season total in program history.
PAIR OF COMEBACKS LEADS TO WIN OVER RUTGERS
The Panthers battled back from a pair of 2-0 deficits to claim a pair of victories over Rutgers in each most recent action last Saturday, Feb. 17.
FIU opened the day with a 4-3 victory over the Scarlet Knights that saw them battle back from an early 2-0 deficit, before following with a 3-2 win in eight innings in the finale.
Graduate transfer
Casey Goguts drove home the eventual game-winning run in the opener with a sacrifice fly to deep center in the bottom of the sixth – after the Panthers loaded the bases with one out.
The second meeting required extra innings to decide a winner as the Panthers battled back from a early 2-0 deficit before walking off with the victory on a single to right by
Collier Peaden – who tabbed a total of five hits over the two wins.
The Panthers tied the game at 2-2 to force extra frames with a single tally in the sixth and seventh.
Ashton Lansdell provided an RBI single in the sixth and
Makayla Navarro tied it up with a clutch sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
FIU freshman starter Jewlie Vanderkous earned the win in the first start of her collegiate career while going the full eight innings and limiting the Scarlet Knights to two runs, only one of which was earned and four hits.
LAST POWER FIVE WINS
The back-to-back wins over Big Ten member Rutgers marked the Panthers' first win against a Power Five opponent since it defeated Syracuse 2-1 on Feb. 8, 2020.
It also marked the first consecutive wins over a Power Five foe since defeating Rutgers in back-to-back games in 2019.
ANOTHER COMEBACK - FOUR-RUN FIFTH LEADS TO WIN OVER ARMY
The Panthers fought back from an early 3-0 deficit to post a 5-4 victory over Army on Feb. 16.
FIU rallied with a four-run fifth to claim the lead for good at 4-3. FIU loaded the bases with no outs, following three consecutive hits to open the frame by
Makayla Navarro (double),
Zamya McBurrows (single) and
Collier Peaden (bunt single).
The Panthers then recorded a pair of runs off bases loaded walks and scored on a RBI fielder's choice and a run-scoring single by
Ella Whitney.
FIU added a single run in the bottom of the sixth when Peade crossed following an error by Army to increase the lead to 5-3.
VARGA DAZZLES IN OPENING START
FIU junior hurler
Alina Varga tossed a complete game shutout in her first start as a Panther to lead FIU to a 1-0 shutout victory over Southeast Missouri on Feb. 10.
Varga kept the Redhawks at bay all afternoon – allowing just a total of five baserunners while facing a total of 25 hitters, just four over the minimum. She did not allow a runner to advance to third and retired the final eight hitters she faced.
PANTHERS MAKE QUICK WORK OF STONY BROOK FOR FIRST WIN
the Panthers exploded for 12 runs over the initial four innings to seal its first victory of 2024 by a 12-0 margin over Stony Brook on Feb. 10.
Casey Goguts led the way for the Panthers with a team-best four RBI - including a three-run homer in the decisive fourth inning to cap off the early win.
FIU starting pitcher
Brooke McNichols (1-0) went the full five innings and limited the Seawolves to one base hit.
WHAT IS BACK
The Panthers return a total of seven starters from last season's squad, including All-Conference USA First Team catcher
Isabella Perez. She led CUSA and ranked 11th among national leaders in runners caught stealing with 16
FIU also welcomes its top hitter from last season in
Ella Whitney, who saw time at first base and in the circle as a freshman while totaling a .349 batting average and 10 extra base hits – her .349 clip ranked as the 10
th best total among league leaders.
Other returning starters include
Ashton Lansdell (SS),
Makayla Navarro (INF),
Brooke McCann (OF),
Kaleena Downing (INF) and
Abigail Brown (INF).
In the circle, the Panthers welcome back all four of their primary pitchers from last season in
Sydney Birling,
Brooke McNichols,
Megan Kruger and Whitney.
UP NEXT
FIU remains home next weekend for its Conference USA opening series against Liberty beginning on Friday, March 8 in a 6 p.m. ET first pitch at Felsberg Field.
TICKETS
For more information on tickets to FIU Athletic Events, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the
FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
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(@FIUSoftball), Twitter (
@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (
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