2017 Opening Series

Jacksonville State (34-24 in 2016) vs. FIU (29-29 in 2016)
 
Friday, February 17: 7 p.m. (PantherVision broadcast, CLICK HERE)
JSU RHP Garrett Farmer (4-4, 5.80 ERA) vs. FIU RHP Chris Mourelle (6-6, 5.07 ERA)  

Saturday, Feb. 18: 7 p.m. (No broadcast)
JSU RHP Colton Pate (2-3, 9.21 ERA) vs. FIU LHP Dominic LoBrutto (3-2, 1.04 ERA)

Sunday, Feb. 19: 1 p.m. (PantherVision)
JSU LHP Derrick Adams (3-4, 7.98 ERA) vs. FIU LHP Alex Demchak (3-3, 2.87 ERA)
 
Series history: FIU leads 2-0
First meeting: May 16, 1996, FIU won 10-8 at TAAC tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
Last meeting: May 14, 1998, FIU won 3-1 at TAAC tournament in Osceola, Fla.
 
Series preview: Jacksonville State and FIU meet for just the third time in their respective baseball histories. Both teams were conference rivals in the Trans America Athletic Conference in the late 1990's but played the only two games of their series in conference tournament play. . .The Gamecocks, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, won their conference championship three years ago. JSU is projected to win its conference this season in the league's preseason picks. . .JSU led the OVC in hitting with a .313 average last season. Clayton Daniel, a preseason All-American selection, is the Gamecocks' top hitter after hitting .372 last season. . .Coach Mervyl Melendez makes his FIU debut as just the fourth head coach in FIU baseball history. . .FIU returns a veteran-laden lineup led by shortstop Irving Lopez, who hit a team-leading .335 in 2016. . .The Panthers finished third in Conference USA in hitting with a .291 clip and second in the league with 596 hits. . .FIU is 29-15 on Opening Day in its 44-year history.
 
2016 Leaders 

Jacksonville State

Team stats
Average: .313
ERA: 5.99
Fielding pct.: .960
 
Individual leaders
Average: Clayton Daniel .372
Home runs: Tyler Gamble 12
RBI: Tyler Gamble 59
Stolen bases: Gavin Golsan 27
Wins: Graham Officer 8
ERA: Graham Officer 6.03
Strikeouts: Garrett Farmer, Nate Sylvester 42
Saves: Justin Hoyt 11
 
FIU

Team stats
Average: .291
ERA: 4.34
Fielding pct.: .963
 
Individual leaders
Average: Irving Lopez .335               
Home runs: Nick Day 10                          
RBI: Nick Day, Zach Files 31
Stolen bases: Kolby Follis 15
Wins: Chris Mourelle 6
ERA: Chris Mourelle 5.07
Strikeouts: Chris Mourelle 59
Saves: Williams Durruthy 9