MIAMI — The FIU softball team (22-8, 5-1 CUSA) looks to continue their winning ways this weekend with a three-game series at Felsberg Field against New Mexico State (17-12,4-2 CUSA), beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.

Sunday's game will be the lone contest to be aired on ESPN+. All three games will have live stats.

While the Aggies have won six of their past eight, the Panthers have produced victories in 15 of their past 16 contests. In last weekend's sweep of Kennesaw State on the road, FIU picked up its first conference series sweep since knocking off UTEP May 5-7, 2023. 

FIU's 30-game start overall is its best since the 2017 team opened 24-6. That year also represented the last time the Panthers produced series wins in each of their first two three-game sets in Conference USA play. This year's team could push it to three straight, which the Panthers haven't done since joining Conference USA for the 2013-14 school year.

A large reason for FIU's early success is the pitching of Kennedy Byrd, a junior JUCO transfer from Louisburg College. In last Sunday's series-sweep-clinching win over Kennesaw State, she became just the fourth FIU pitcher to toss a solo, seven-inning no-hit shutout, and she was the first to do so since 2001.

It was the 12th overall no-hitter in program history as she joins Erin McCutcheon, Leah Barnes and Mila Nelson in the prestigious group. Jennifer Gniadek also threw a solo, seven-inning no-hitter, but hers was not a shutout. The duo of Shelby Graves and Shelbie Wagnon combined for a no-hitter over seven innings in 2013. 

Byrd, who also tossed a complete game in the series opener, was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week on Monday. She is currently 10-5 overall with a 2.92 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 103 innings, which also includes eight complete games. Her 10 wins are the second-most in CUSA, and she currently has the third-best ERA in CUSA games at 1.84.

The series could feature plenty of offense as New Mexico State (2nd, 260) and FIU (3rd, 249) rank among the top three teams in total hits among conference teams. Both teams also rank among the top four in RBIs and total runs.

FIU NATIONAL LEADERS
Team
Stolen bases - 8th, 78 (1st in CUSA)
Stolen bases per game - 9th, 2.60 (1st in CUSA)
Total hits - 32nd, 249 (3rd in CUSA)
W/L percentage - 41st, .733 (2nd in CUSA)
Total runs - 62nd, 160 (4th in CUSA)

Kennedy Byrd
Innings pitched - 4th, 103 (1st in CUSA)
Shutouts - 14th, 3 (1st in CUSA)
Wins - 24th, 10 (2nd in CUSA)
Complete games - 27th, 8 (2nd in CUSA)

Kally Meredith
Total stolen bases - 8th, 23 (2nd in CUSA)
Stolen base percentage - 11th, .958 (1st in CUSA)
Stolen bases per game - 13th, .77 (2nd in CUSA)
Total hits - 24th, 41 (1st in CUSA)

Collier Peaden
Total stolen bases - 28th, 15 (3rd in CUSA)
Stolen base percentage - 52nd, .789 (3rd in CUSA)

OPPONENT OUTLOOK
New Mexico State's potent offense ranks ninth nationally in doubles (54) and doubles per game (1.86), 22nd in hits (260), 24th in home runs (36) and 26th in home runs per game (1.24).

Desirae Spearman leads the Aggies offensively with a .474 batting average, which is 22nd in the country. She also ranks among the top 10 players nationally in on base percentage (5th, .617), slugging percentage (7th, 1.026), home runs (8th, 12), walks per game (8th, 0.96) and home runs per game (9th, 0.43). She also ranks 12th in total bases with 80.

Kristiana Watson ranks 15th nationally in doubles (11), 24th in total bases (74), 32nd in RBIs (34), 39th in RBIs per game (1.17) and 43rd in total hits (39).

UP NEXT
Following Friday's opener, the Panthers host the Aggies at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

After this weekend, FIU will hit the road for a three-game conference series against Jacksonville State next weekend.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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