MIAMI — FIU's softball program is set for its first Conference USA (CUSA) series at Baptist Health Stadium this weekend, hosting UTEP Friday-Saturday, March 13-14.
The Panthers (19-5, 1-2 CUSA) take on the Miners (9-13, 1-2 CUSA) to open up their CUSA home slate with a three-game series this weekend. FIU notched its first CUSA victory in the final game of its series at Delaware after falling in the first two closely-contested contests. Meagan Villazon was a key catalyst in the Panthers' win over the Blue Hens on Sunday, striking out eight and allowing just two hits in the circle for a complete game victory.
Offensively, Zamya McBurrows paced FIU in the three-game set at Delaware, batting .455 with five RBI, including a double and a homer. Leah Clark was also instrumental, specifically in Sunday's contest, knocking out two triples and finishing the weekend with a .455 batting average and five hits.
Kally Meredith has also been a mainstay in the FIU attack at the top of the lineup as she currently leads CUSA in batting average (.519), on-base percentage (.570), runs scored (30) and hits (40). Her and Clark also rank 1-2 in triples and stolen bases. Clark's 19 stolen bases are sixth-most nationally and FIU's 56 total stolen bases are ninth-most nationally.
In the circle, the Panthers' weekend rotation against Delaware was as follows: J'dah Girigorie (Friday), Kennedy Byrd (Saturday) and Meagan Villazon (Sunday).
This weekend, FIU will be looking to avenge last season's sweep that came at the hands of Miners, April 17-19, in El Paso. The Panthers scored six runs in two of the three games in that series, but UTEP plated a combined 30 runs, out-slugging FIU in all three contests. Kennedy Byrd homered twice and combined for five hits and five RBI to lead the offensive effort.
SCOUTING THE MINERS
Much like FIU, UTEP salvaged the final game of its first CUSA series last weekend, winning 3-2 in the series finale over Sam Houston. The Miners most recently fell to Arizona State at home on Tuesday, 10-1.
UTEP is led by Marissa Burchard, who holds a .425 batting average, seventh-best in CUSA. Burchard has been particularly effective with extra base hits, collecting a CUSA-leading 11 doubles on the season. In the circle, the Miners are led by Tatyana Vega, who holds a 4.99 ERA in 73.0 innings pitched with eight starts on the season.
Last weekend's starting pitchers for UTEP in its three-game series with Sam Houston were as follows: Vega (Friday), Serenity Jacoway (Saturday) and Arianna Flores (Sunday).
FIU IN THE RANKINGS
NCAA RPI: 36
Softball America Mid-Major Poll: 16
Diamond Sports Mid-Major Rankings: 17
D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll: 21
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time vs. UTEP: FIU trails 13-6
Home/Away/Neutral: 2-4/4-8/0-0
Last: UTEP def. FIU, 16-6, April 19, 2025 (El Paso, Texas)
Streak: FIU L4
GAME TIMES/BROADCAST INFO
Network: All Games on ESPN+
Friday, March 13 - 3 p.m.
PBP: Corey Brooks
Analyst: George Richards
Friday, March 13 - 6 p.m. (30 Minutes After Game One)
PBP: Corey Brooks
Analyst: George Richards
Saturday, March 14 - 1 p.m.
PBP: Corey Brooks
Analyst: Lindsey Burroughs
HOW TO FOLLOW
All links to live action can be found at fiusports.com/SBStats & fiusports.com/WatchSB.
BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU Softball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics.
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.
