LAS CRUCES, N.M. — FIU's softball program dropped its second-straight contest to New Mexico State on Saturday in Conference USA (CUSA) play, falling 8-5 to the Aggies on the road.
The Panthers (22-8, 4-4 CUSA) outhit the Aggies (16-15, 6-2 CUSA) 12-10 in the game, but NMSU used two four-run innings to down FIU, securing the series victory. Kally Meredith had a team-high two RBI, giving the Panthers an early lead with a two-RBI single. Four different FIU players had multi-hit games in defeat as Janelle Martinez, Kennedy Byrd, Paige Miller and Kaleena Downing each had two hits.
FIU led early, taking a 3-0 lead after a three-run third, but the Aggies responded with a four-run bottom half of the third to take a 4-3 advantage. Riley Silvers drove in the game-tying run in the fourth before NMSU plated four runs in the fifth to regain control, up 8-4. For the second-straight day, FIU mounted a late rally, scoring one run on a Kendall Catherwood RBI single to bring its deficit to three in the final frame. The Panthers then loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, but the Aggies escaped once again, retiring the final two FIU hitters.
J'dah Girigorie (5-4) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing eight runs in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts. Brooke McNichols posted a solid outing in relief as she did in Game One, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. The Aggies had six extra-base hits in the game while FIU managed just one, an RBI double from Martinez in the third.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on New Mexico State tomorrow, Sunday March 21, for the final game of the series at 12:30 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
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