MIAMI — FIU's softball program opened the Panther Invitational with two shutout victories over Florida A&M and Eastern Illinois at Baptist Health Stadium.
The Panthers (11-2) used complete game shutout performances from Kennedy Byrd and Brooke McNichols to secure two wins on the opening day of their home tournament. FIU outscored its opponents by a combined score of 11-0, winning 8-0 in five over FAMU and 3-0 in the nightcap against Eastern Illinois. The Panthers are the lone undefeated team remaining after Day One and their 11-2 start through 13 games is their best start since 2001.
FLORIDA A&M
Byrd (5-0) took the circle for the Panthers and was effective from the outset, allowing just one base runner in the first three innings. Offensively, FIU struck for three in the third, loading the bases with no one out to begin the frame. A perfectly executed double steal from Kendall Catherwood and Cayce Kavakich scored Kavakich, a pinch runner, to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage. Leah Clark then knocked in Catherwood with sacrifice fly for the inning's second run. Kennedy Byrd produced a second-consecutive productive out with an RBI groundout, giving FIU a three-run lead after three.
Both sides were held scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Panthers again started off the inning with baserunners. Byrd delivered a second RBI of the day to start it off, with a single to left field. FIU continued to pour it on as Janelle Martinez and Paige Miller both then reached base, knocking in one more each for a 6-0 lead. Sammy Zelenka was hit by a pitch later in the frame with the bases loaded to put FIU up 7-0. Catherwood was then walked in the following at-bat for the winning run via mercy rule.
Byrd pitched all 5.0 innings and gave up just three hits and one walk, striking out three on an efficient 60 pitches thrown. She also added one hit and two RBI in three at-bats. This the second time in her FIU career that she has notched a complete game victory with three hits or less given up, joining her no-hitter performance against Kennesaw State on March 16, 2025.
EASTERN ILLINOIS
Brooke McNichols (3-0) continued her excellent run of form in the final matchup of the day, keeping Eastern Illinois off-balance for much of the game. The Panther offense helped to provide a cushion early once again, as Martinez produced a two-out RBI single to score Clark in bottom of the first. FIU pushed one across in the bottom of the second as well as Catherwood came through with a base hit up the middle to score Daley Alsobrook.
With a two-run lead in tow, that proved to be more than enough for McNichols. She settled in as the game progressed, setting down Eastern Illinois 1-2-3 in each of the final two innings. Kally Meredith bunted one back to the pitcher in the sixth and beat out the throw, scoring for the Panthers' third and final run. Meredith now has an eight-game hitting streak and had three hits on the day.
In total, McNichols surrendered just four hits and had zero walks with five strikeouts, registering her second-consecutive complete game shutout at home. Her five strikeouts are her most this season in three outings and match a career high, set on March 3, 2025 vs. Saint Francis.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on Incarnate Word at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 to complete the Round Robin play of Panther Invitational. If FIU wins, the Panthers are guaranteed to play in the 5:30 p.m. matchup between the one-seed and four-seed. A loss would mean a possibility that FIU would play in the two-three game at 3 p.m.
Further updates on the semifinal rounds will be made via the social media channels below and via the FIU Softball page on fiusports.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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