Skip To Main Content

FIU Athletics

PanthersCalendar

Full Calendar
SB26G1UTEPHome
3
UTEP UTEP 9-14, 1-3 CUSA
4
Winner FIU FIU 20-5, 2-2 CUSA
UTEP UTEP
9-14, 1-3 CUSA
3
Final
4
FIU FIU
20-5, 2-2 CUSA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UTEP UTEP 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 4 0
FIU FIU 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 8 2

W: Villazon, Meagan (6-0) L: Tatyana Vega (8-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball’s Catherwood Delivers Walk-Off Hit for Series Opening Win over UTEP

FIU improves to 20-5 on the season with its second-straight CUSA win

MIAMI — FIU's softball program produced a walk-off victory, via a single off the bat of Kendall Catherwood, to open its first Conference USA (CUSA) home series with a win over UTEP on Friday night. 

The Panthers (20-5, 2-2 CUSA) faced a 3-2 deficit to the Miners (9-14, 1-3 CUSA) headed into their final at-bat after holding a 2-0 lead for much of the contest. FIU proved its resiliency, however, in the seventh, plating two runs to secure the walk-off victory. 

FIU started the final frame by loading the bases with no outs, setting the stage for the seventh-inning rally. Following an out, Janelle Martinez put the ball in play on the infield, which scored Kally Meredith to tie the game at 3-all. Catherwood came to the dish in the next at-bat with two outs and delivered the game-winning hit in clutch fashion, lacing a single through the right side to score Leah Clark, giving FIU its second-straight CUSA victory. 

Meredith led the offense with three hits while Martinez had two RBI on the day. Martinez also made a key throw to stop a would-be UTEP run in the top of the seventh, delivering a strike to catcher Bella Perez on a tagging runner from third to keep the FIU deficit at 3-2. 

J'dah Girigorie started for the Panthers and delivered a dazzling display in her first 5.2 innings, holding a perfect game with just four outs remaining. After running into some trouble in the sixth and early in the seventh, Girigorie gave way to Meagan Villazon (6-0), who earned the win by getting all three outs in the seventh. 

Girigorie's final line read 6.0 innings pitched, scattering four hits and allowing three runs, one earned, while striking out three on 90 pitches. Isabella Perez delivered FIU's lone extra base hit in the game, launching a double to the wall in the bottom of the sixth. 

UP NEXT
The Panthers are scheduled for their final two games of the series with the Miners via a doubleheader slated to begin tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m.

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.

Print Friendly Version