FIU Panthers (16-24, 4-11 CUSA)
Friday, April 19
vs. Jax State (18-24, 7-8 CUSA), 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, April 20
vs. Jax State, 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, April 21
vs. Jax State, 1 p.m.
 
PANTHERS HOST JAX STATE IN PIVOTAL CUSA SERIES
The Panthers welcome Jacksonville State to the friendly confines of Felsberg Field for a pivotal Conference USA series this weekend.
 
The series will feature three games, one each from Friday through Sunday – beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday night.  Saturday's game will begin at 4 p.m. with Sunday's finale slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
Each of this weekend's games will air live on ESPN+.
 
CUSA SCHEDULE COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
With a total of three conference series remaining, the Panthers are looking for a late run to secure their place in the six-team 2024 Conference USA Championship – which is scheduled for May 8-11 in Las Cruces, N.M.
 
The Panthers sit a total of three wins behind this weekend's foe Jacksonville State and UTEP  - who are currently tied for sixth place entering the weekend.
 
FIU will close out the league slate with a three-game set vs. Sam Houston at home next weekend, before wrapping up the Conference USA regular-season slate at Louisiana Tech on May 3-5.
 
PANTHERS BY THE NUMBERS
Entering this weekend's series vs. Jacksonville State the Panthers are:

• 12-3 overall when leading after 4 innings
• Hitting .283 overall as a team thorough the first 40 games – which would be their best season total since 2017  - when they also recorded a .283 clip.
• In Conference USA games the Panthers are hitting for a .303 clip over the initial 15 league games.
• Senior Bailey Grossenbacher leads the squad with a .475 average in CUSA contests – which is the second-best total in Conference USA overall.
• Grossenbacher's .384 batting average in all games ranks as sixth among CUSA leaders.
• Freshman Kally Meredith ranks second among CUSA leaders with 17 stolen bases.
• Panthers are 8-2 this season when the score six or more runs.
• Panthers own a 13-4 record when they outhit their opponent.
• Grossenbacher owns a current streak of nine straight games reaching base entering the weekend, while Ella Whitney has reached in seven consecutive contests.
• Meredith and Collier Peaden led the Panthers with 12 multi-hit games this season.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS VS. JAX STATE
The Panthers have met Jacksonville State one previous time in the sport of softball entering this weekend's three-game set at Felsberg Field.
 
Jacksonville State
Series: FIU leads 1-0
H: 0-0, A: 0-0, N: 1-0
Current Streak: W1
 

Date	Site	Result	Score
3/24/01	Boca Raton, Fla.	W	3-1

 
TOUGH START TO LEAGUE SLATE
The Panthers drew a tough draw in terms of the Conference USA schedule as FIU has faced the top three teams in the preseason coaches' poll over its initial three series of league play.
 
FIU managed to take a game from preseason favorite Liberty during the opening weekend of conference play at home before dropping all three games at Western Kentucky and posting a win at Middle Tennessee on March 28-30.
 
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 51 stolen bases – in 61 attempts.
 
Kally Meredith leads the Panthers and ranks tied for second among CUSA leaders with 17 steals (in 19 attempts).  Ashton Lansdell follows with 10 on 11 attempts.  Collier Peaden is 8-of-10 and Makayla Navarro in 7-of-10.
 
The Panthers totaled 82 stolen bases last season – which ranked as the seventh-best single-season total in program history.
 
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 continues its final homestand of 2024 when it hosts Sam Houston in a three-game series at Felsberg Field beginning on Friday, May 26 at 6 p.m. ET.
 
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.
 
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.