MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — FIU's softball program fell to Middle Tennessee, 7-6 in nine innings, in Game Two of its Conference USA (CUSA) series on Friday night on the road.
The Panthers (33-17, 15-11 CUSA) battled with the Blue Raiders (21-29, 7-19 CUSA) in a game that had two ties and three lead changes. FIU led 5-0 early, but a five-run fifth for MTSU evened up the score. The two teams traded runs in the latter innings, capped by a Blue Raider homer in the seventh that sent the game to extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth, MTSU delivered a bases loaded single to secure the win.
Kally Meredith had three hits to lead the offensive effort, adding two runs scored and an RBI. Kennedy Byrd, Paige Miller and Leah Clark each had two hits in support. In total, FIU had 11 hits and four walks, but left 10 runners on base. J'dah Girigorie (L, 9-7), who came on relief, suffered the defeat, allowing the game-winning run in the ninth.
The Panthers started the scoring early as Miller ripped an RBI single up the middle to give FIU a 1-0 advantage in the first. Janelle Martinez put the ball in play with two on and two outs in the second and a resulting MTSU error made the score 2-0 in FIU's favor after its first two at-bats.
In the third inning, the one-sided opening to the game continued as the Panthers plated three runs in the frame. FIU first loaded the bases with no one out to open the inning. Following an out, back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Kaleena Downing, Meredith and Byrd gave the Panthers a 5-0 lead after three innings of play.
Byrd ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, however, surrendering five consecutive hits that ended in five MTSU runs, tying the score at 5-all after four. Meagan Villazon came on in relief of Byrd to get the final two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
After a scoreless fifth, Clark broke the deadlock with an RBI single just inside the right field line in the sixth to put FIU up 6-5. Down to their last two outs in the seventh, the Blue Raiders launched a solo shot to tie the game at 6-6. Girigorie then entered the game for Villazon, securing the final two outs to send the game to extra innings for the second-straight night.
After both sides were held off the board in the eighth, FIU got a runner to third in the ninth, but was stranded there. In the bottom half, MTSU loaded the bases with no outs before a Blue Raider single through the infield secured them the walk-off win.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on MTSU tomorrow, Saturday, May 2, at 1 p.m. for the series and regular season finale.
BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU Softball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics.
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