MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — FIU's softball program closed its regular season on a high note with a 15-2 win over Middle Tennessee in Conference USA (USA) action on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (34-17, 16-11 CUSA) defeated the Blue Raiders (21-30, 7-20 CUSA) behind two homers from
Kennedy Byrd and a strong relief outing from
J'dah Girigorie (W, 10-7). FIU's 34 wins and 16 conference wins are both the most for the program since the 2017 season.
Byrd, who homered twice in a game for the second time this season, led the offensive effort with four RBI, launching a solo homer in the third to tie the game and followed that with a three-run shot in her next at-bat in the fourth. Girigorie pitched the final 6.0 innings of the game for FIU in relief of starter
Brooke McNichols, allowing just two hits and xx earned runs while striking out six.
Paige Miller also had a two-hit day and scored twice.
Kendall Catherwood provided two RBI for the Panthers as did
Victoria Scott, who got her first hit of the season, a two-RBI single in the sixth.
Grace Helbling,
Janelle Martinez,
Leah Clark and
Zamya McBurrows each added one of their own.
FIU took the lead early with a run in the second as Helbling singled home Miller. MTSU answered with three straight hits in the second, producing two runs in the frame. Girigorie then came in to relieve McNichols and escaped the inning unscathed as the Blue Raiders led 2-1 after two innings.
Byrd's solo shot in the third tied the game back up and a five-run fourth in their next at-bat from the Panthers swung the momentum back for good. In the fourth, Catherwood had a two-RBI double to give FIU a 4-2 lead. Byrd then hammered a three-run homer to left, putting the Panthers up 7-2.
With a comfortable lead in two, FIU tacked on eight runs in the sixth to take a 13-run lead. Girigorie finished off the mercy rule win with a scoreless sixth inning.
Byrd's two homers, her 13th and 14th of the season, now put her at tied-fourth all-time for homers in a season. The 13-run victory is the largest margin of victory for the Panthers this season.
UP NEXT
FIU heads to the Conference USA (CUSA) Championships in Newark, Del., of which competition will begin on May 6. Further updates on the Panthers' game time on Wednesday and opponent will be made via FIU Softball's social media channels and on fiusports.com.
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. If you can just check J'dah's final line bc i now can't see it
