MIAMI — FIU's softball program responded with a 10-4 win over Liberty in Game Two of its Conference USA (CUSA) series on Saturday at Baptist Health Stadium.
The Panthers (29-15, 11-9 CUSA) bounced back with a convincing six-run victory over the Flames (21-23, 14-6 CUSA) to even the series at 1-all. Brooke McNichols (7-2) pitched her fifth consecutive complete game in the circle and delivered another gem, allowing just three earned runs on an efficient 98 pitches. Offensively, FIU exploded for a six-run fifth inning to distance itself from Liberty.
At the plate, Leah Clark had two hits and two RBI to lead the balanced Panther effort. Kally Meredith tripled and also collected two RBI in the game. Janelle Martinez also had a multi-hit day with two hits, one walk, one RBI and a run scored. In total, FIU had six hitters with at least one hit and seven different Panthers had one RBI or more.
Liberty struck first with two runs in the first, but FIU quickly responded in the bottom half as a Clark RBI double and an RBI from Paige Miller evened the game at 2-all after one. In the bottom of the second, Meredith stepped to the dish with two outs and deposited a pitch into the right center field gap for an RBI triple, scoring Kaleena Downing to put the Panthers up 3-2. Martinez added to the FIU lead a short time later with an RBI single to right field, prompting a pitching change from the Flames.
McNichols settled in well after the first, blanking Liberty's offense in the second and third innings, but the Flames got within one with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth, making the score 4-3 after four. The bottom of the fifth shifted the momentum significantly towards FIU as the Panthers led off the frame with a walk and a single to set the table.
Clark then ripped an RBI single to right center to start the scoring in the fifth. Kendall Catherwood pushed across a run as well, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to put FIU up 6-3. Jensen Luke then followed that in the next at-bat with an RBI single, giving the Panthers a four-run lead. FIU continued to tack on three more runs in the frame courtesy of an RBI walk from Downing and a sacrifice fly from Meredith and resulting error that brought two more runs home. FIU led 10-3 after the fifth-inning offensive surge.
After a scoreless sixth, Liberty scored one unearned run in the seventh, but McNichols shut the door from there. She retired the final two Flame hitters to finish off the 10-4 win.
UP NEXT
FIU and Liberty will play tomorrow, Sunday, April 19, at 11 a.m. in the deciding and final game of the three-game series.
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.
