MIAMI — FIU's softball program completed a Conference USA (CUSA) series sweep of Sam Houston on Sunday with a comeback 5-3 win.
The Panthers (32-16, 14-10 CUSA) dropped the Bearkats (29-23, 13-11 CUSA) for the third-consecutive day to secure their third home series sweep of the season in CUSA play. FIU erased a 3-1 deficit with four combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings to finish off the come-from-behind victory.
In the circle, J'dah Girigorie (W, 8-6) pitched a complete game, allowing just three runs, while scattering six hits and striking out three. Janelle Martinez and Zamya McBurrows accounted for the Panthers' two RBI in the game as FIU scored three unearned runs off Sam Houston's pitching.
Martinez started the scoring with an RBI single to right field in the first, putting the Panthers ahead 1-0. Sam Houston responded with a three-run homer in the third and held its 3-1 lead after three innings played.
In the fourth, McBurrows delivered a sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit in half, scoring Leah Clark. The fifth inning turned the tides in the game as FIU got two runners on with one out. Martinez then put the ball in play and a resulting error allowed Kally Meredith to race home, tying the game at 3-all.
After Clark was a hit by a pitch, Paige Miller lined out to shortstop for the second out, but the Bearkats threw the ball away twice in trying to get the third out, allowing Martinez and Chloe Bedwell to score. FIU led 5-3 after five innings after plating three in the fifth.
With a two-run lead in tow, Girigorie allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings to clinch the series sweep.
UP NEXT
FIU has its final regular season CUSA series in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at Middle Tennessee next weekend, Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2.
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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