RUSTON, La. — FIU's softball program secured a Conference USA (CUSA) series opening victory over Louisiana Tech on Friday night, downing the Bulldogs 4-3 on the road.
The Panthers (27-12, 9-7 CUSA) defeated the Bulldogs (21-20, 7-9 CUSA) in Game One of a pivotal CUSA road series behind strong pitching from Brooke McNichols and homers from Janelle Martinez and Leah Clark.
FIU's offense had nine hits and seven different Panthers collected at least one hit in the game. McNichols pitched her fourth consecutive complete game, scattering 10 hits while allowing just three earned runs and striking out three on 104 total pitches.
Martinez put FIU on the board in the third inning with a two-run homer to left, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Louisiana Tech clawed back with a run in the bottom half to make the score 2-1 in FIU's favor after three innings.
In the fifth inning, the Panthers added an insurance run following a Bulldog error, but Louisiana Tech then scored two in the bottom half to even the score at 3-all.
Clark then delivered the biggest hit of the night in the sixth with a solo homer, her fourth of the season, to put FIU ahead for good. McNichols allowed one baserunner in both the bottom half of the sixth and seventh innings, but escaped unblemished to secure the one-run victory.
This was FIU's fourth game this season with multiple homers, all of which are victories, and first since a two-homer performance at New Mexico State on March 22. The victory also marks the first series opening win on the road for the Panthers since a 4-2 win at Kennesaw State on March 14, 2025.
UP NEXT
The Panthers and Bulldogs face off for Game Two of the series at 3 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 11 in Ruston, La.
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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