FIU’s softball team will play its first home Conference USA series of the season against UTEP at Baptist Health Stadium on March 13 and 14.
The Panthers, with a record of 19-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play, are looking to build momentum after securing their first Conference USA win in their last outing at Delaware. Meagan Villazon led the team to victory by pitching a complete game, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits. Offensively, Zamya McBurrows contributed significantly during the Delaware series, batting .455 with five runs batted in, while Leah Clark added two triples and finished with a .455 average over the weekend.
Kally Meredith has been a standout performer for FIU this season, leading Conference USA in batting average (.519), on-base percentage (.570), runs scored (30), and hits (40). Both Meredith and Clark are also among the top players in triples and stolen bases within the conference. Clark’s 19 stolen bases rank sixth nationally, while FIU as a team is ninth nationally with 56 total stolen bases.
The Panthers’ pitching rotation last weekend featured J’dah Girigorie on Friday, Kennedy Byrd on Saturday, and Villazon on Sunday. This upcoming series gives FIU an opportunity to avenge last year’s sweep by UTEP in El Paso. In that previous matchup, Kennedy Byrd hit two home runs and collected five hits with five RBI for FIU.
UTEP enters the series with a record of 9-13 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Miners recently won their final game against Sam Houston but lost to Arizona State earlier this week. Marissa Burchard leads UTEP offensively with a .425 batting average and holds the top spot in Conference USA for doubles this season. Tatyana Vega leads their pitching staff with a 4.99 earned run average over eight starts.
All games will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Corey Brooks providing play-by-play commentary alongside analysts George Richards and Lindsey Burroughs throughout the weekend.
