MIAMI — FIU's softball program was defeated 6-5 in a tightly-contested Conference USA (CUSA) matchup with Liberty on Sunday. 

The Panthers (29-16, 11-10 CUSA) rallied from a 4-0 deficit to the Flames (22-23, 15-6 CUSA), scoring five unanswered runs to take a 5-4 lead into the seventh inning. Liberty, however, plated two runs with two outs in its at-bat in the seventh and then held the Panthers scoreless in the bottom half to claim the one-run victory and the 2-1 series win.

Leah Clark led the offensive effort with a 3-for-3 day and two runs scored, reaching base in all four of her at-bats. Paige Miller and Janelle Martinez both had crucial two-run singles that aided FIU's comeback. Kally Meredith picked up two hits in the game and scored once. 

In the circle, Kennedy Byrd (7-6) suffered the loss in relief of starter Meagan Villazon, pitching 5.1 innings while surrendering four runs, three earned. Villazon allowed two runs in the first and finished with 1.2 innings pitched. 

The Flames controlled the early innings of the game, plating two in the first, one in the second and one In the third to take a 4-0 lead. FIU got itself on the board as Isabella Perez singled and a resulting error from Liberty allowed Clark to score from first, cutting the deficit to 4-1 after four innings of play. 

The Panthers showed their fight, starting in the fifth, as FIU loaded the bases with two outs. Miller then ripped a single under the first baseman's glove to score two runs, getting the Panthers within one, down 4-3 after five. 

In the sixth, FIU loaded the bases once again with two outs, setting the stage for Martinez. She deposited a looping single into right field to cap FIU's five unanswered runs from the fourth to the sixth, staking the Panthers to a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh. 

With two outs and two runners on in their final at-bat, the Flames delivered with a two-RBI infield single to go back on top, 6-5. FIU worked a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh, but three straight Panther hitters were then retired as Liberty pulled out the win in a thriller. 

UP NEXT
FIU takes on Sam Houston in its final CUSA home series next weekend, April 24-26, at Baptist Health Stadium. 

BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU Softball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics.

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