RUSTON, La. — FIU’s softball program suffered a 6-3 setback to Louisiana Tech in Conference USA (CUSA) play on Saturday, evening the series between the Bulldogs and Panthers at 1-1.Â
The Panthers (27-13, 9-8 CUSA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Bulldogs (22-20, 8-9 CUSA) behind two homers from Kennedy Byrd, but Louisiana Tech scored six unanswered runs to claim the victory.Â
Byrd led the offensive effort with two hits and three RBI, launching a two-run homer in the first and following that with a solo blast in the third. Kally Meredith also had two hits in the game, scoring once.Â
Meagan Villazon (8-1) took her first defeat of the season, pitching 3.2 innings while allowing four runs and five hits. Byrd started for FIU and went 2.1 innings, scattering six hits and giving up two earned runs.Â
After Byrd’s two big flies put the Panthers up three, the Bulldogs answered with two solo shots in the bottom of the third to pull within one. Following FIU’s pitching change, La Tech scored two in the fourth to take its first lead, pulling in front, 4-3. The Bulldogs tacked on two insurance runs, one each in the fifth and sixth, to secure the result. The Panthers were retired in order in the final two frames.Â
Byrd now has 38 RBI on the season, the most for any Panther since Stephanie Teixeira had 52 RBI in 2017.Â
UP NEXT
The Panthers and Bulldogs face off for the final game of the series at noon tomorrow, Sunday, April 12 in Ruston, La.Â
BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU Softball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics.
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