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SB26NMSUKallyMeredith1
6
FIU FIU 22-7, 4-3 CUSA
10
Winner New Mexico St. NM STATE 15-15, 5-2 CUSA
FIU FIU
22-7, 4-3 CUSA
6
Final
10
New Mexico St. NM STATE
15-15, 5-2 CUSA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
FIU FIU 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 6 11 1
New Mexico St. NM STATE 0 3 2 1 4 0 X 10 12 2

W: Faith Aragon (12-5) L: Byrd, Kennedy (7-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Downed by New Mexico State in Series Opener

The Panthers fell 10-6 to NMSU in the Game One of the three-game set

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — FIU's softball program suffered a 10-6 defeat on the road on Friday evening to New Mexico State in its series opener with the Aggies. 

The Panthers (22-7, 4-3 CUSA) were out-slugged by NMSU (15-15, 5-2 CUSA) as the Aggies used four homers to power past FIU in Game One of the three-game series in Las Cruces. Kennedy Byrd led the way at the plate for the Panthers with a 3-for-4 evening, which included a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Janelle Martinez and Kendall Catherwood also each had two hits for FIU. 

As a team, the Panthers had 11 hits, including three triples, but left 10 runners on base. Martinez, Kally Meredith and Kaleena Downing accounted for FIU's three triples in the game. 

Byrd (7-3) started in the circle for the Panthers and allowed six runs in 4.0 innings, suffering the loss as the pitcher of record. Meagan Villazon and Brooke McNichols came on in relief to finish off the final 2.0 innings. McNichols had a solid performance in relief, striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings. 

FIU trailed early after Byrd allowed three runs in the second inning, but the Panthers quickly got two back in the top of the third, courtesy of bases-loaded walks from Zamya McBurrows and Martinez. The Aggies responded quickly, stretching their lead to 10-3 by scoring seven combined runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings. 

The Panthers once again rallied, plating three runs in the seventh, two courtesy of the Byrd two-run blast. New Mexico State survived any late scare, however, with back-to-back outs with runners on first and second to seal the win. 

UP NEXT
FIU takes on New Mexico State tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, for Game Two at 6 p.m. in Las Cruces. Links to NMSU's radio stream and live stats will be available on fiusports.com. 

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.

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