MIAMI — FIU's softball program secured a 4-1 series opening win over Sam Houston in Conference USA (CUSA) action on Friday evening. 

The Panthers (30-16, 12-10 CUSA) dropped the Bearkats (29-21, 13-9 CUSA) behind a strong pitching performance from Brooke McNichols (W, 8-2). FIU never trailed in the win as McNichols and J'dah Girigorie (S, 4) shut down the SHSU offense, blanking the Bearkats in their final five at-bats. 

Kennedy Byrd hit the go-ahead homer, launching a solo shot in the third to put FIU up 2-1, her 11th of the season. Kendall Catherwood provided two crucial insurance runs with RBI in the fourth and sixth innings to aid the Panthers to the win. 

To start out the scoring, Janelle Martinez provided the first run for FIU with an RBI single in the bottom of the first. The Bearkats answered with a solo homer in the top of the second, evening the score at 1-all after two innings.

Byrd's blast gave the Panthers the lead in the third and FIU never looked back from there. McNichols and Girigorie, who came in with one out in the fifth, combined to go 7.0 innings, giving up just seven hits and one earned run. 

FIU's 30 wins overall are now the most since 2018. 

UP NEXT
FIU and Sam Houston will match up for Game Two of the series, tomorrow, Saturday, April 25 at 4 p.m.

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

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