MIAMI — FIU's softball program opens up its 2026 season this weekend, playing host to the annual Felsberg Invitational.
The Panthers will welcome Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Louisville, Stony Brook and Lehigh to the '305' for their opening weekend of competition. FIU will have a total of six games over a four-day span, from Feb. 5-8, including two against Power Four and ACC-opponent, Louisville. FIU will play the Cardinals (Feb. 6, 8) and Texas A&M-CC (Feb. 5, 6) twice and match up with Lehigh (Feb. 7) and Stony Brook (Feb. 7) once.
Prior to FIU's tournament-opening game with Texas A&M-CC on Thursday evening, the Panthers will officially cement the re-naming of their home facility as Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium. Representatives from both Baptist Health and FIU will be on hand to commemorate the name change from FIU Softball Stadium – which the facility had been known by since it opened in 1998.
THE FELSBERG INVITATIONAL
FIU hosts the 12th-edition of its annual Felsberg Invitational to kick off the season. First played as the Felsberg Invitational in 2014, this event has been hosted by FIU since its inception and has occurred annually since the 2016 season. The tournament name honors the legacy of Michael Felsberg, a former FIU track and field and cross country student-athlete who graduated in 2003 with a 3.94 GPA and degree in criminal justice. An all-conference performer and commissioner's list honoree for his academic success, Felsberg also won FIU Athletics' spirit award three times as a result of his enthusiastic support of fellow student-athletes.
Felsberg tragically died at the age of 27 in 2004 following a rocket-propelled grenade attack while serving as a Marine in Iraq. He was honored with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service to the country, and the playing surface at FIU's softball stadium was named Felsberg Field in 2014.
In 2025, the Panthers went 4-1 at the Felsberg Invitational, knocking off Power-Four competitors, Indiana and Iowa State.
SERIES HISTORIES
All-Time vs. TAMU-CC: FIU leads 1-0
Home/Away/Neutral: 1-0/0-0/0-0
Last: FIU def. TAMU-CC, 10-2, Feb. 7, 2009 (Miami, Fla.)
All-Time vs. Louisville: FIU trails 5-0
Home/Away/Neutral: 0-5/0-0/0-0
Last: Louisville def. FIU, 11-2 (5), Feb. 13, 2024 (Miami, Fla.)
All-Time vs. Stony Brook: FIU leads 5-2
Home/Away/Neutral: 5-2/0-0/0-0
Last: FIU def. Stony Brook, 9-8, Feb. 9, 2025 (Miami, Fla.)
All-Time vs. Lehigh: First Meeting
Home/Away/Neutral: 0-0/0-0/0-0
Last: First Meeting
BROADCAST TEAMS
All on ESPN+
vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Feb. 5 @ 6 PM
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst: Kenneth Bueno
vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - Feb. 6 @ 2 PM
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst: George Richards
vs. Louisville - Feb. 6 @ 7 PM
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst: George Richards
vs. Stony Brook - Feb. 7 @ 2 PM
Play-by-Play: Kenneth Bueno
Analyst: Lindsey Burroughs
vs. Lehigh - Feb. 7 @ 7 PM
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst: Lindsey Burroughs
vs. Louisville - Feb. 8 @ 11:30 AM
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst: Lindsey Burroughs
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can follow along with all of the weekend's actions on a variety of platforms. All games will have live stats, of which links can be found on the FIU tournament page here. Select games, of which are indicated on tournament page, will air on ESPN+. All FIU-specific action can be found at fiusports.com/SBStats & fiusports.com/WatchSB.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUSoftball), X (@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU softball news.
