FIU (12-9, 1-2 Conference USA) at Rice (6-17, 0-3 C-USA)
 
Friday, March 24: 7:30 p.m. EDT (C-USA TV; Follow on Twitter @FIUBaseball)
FIU RHP Robert Garcia (1-3, 2.55 ERA) at Rice RHP Matt Canterino (1-1, 2.93 ERA)

Saturday, March 25: 3 p.m. (C-USA TV; Follow on Twitter @FIUBaseball)
FIU RHP Chris Mourelle (2-1, 3.62 ERA) at Rice RHP Zach Esquivel (1-4, 2.93 ERA)

Sunday, March 26: 2 p.m. (C-USA TV; Follow on Twitter @FIUBaseball)
FIU RHP Nick MacDonald (2-0, 0.92 ERA) at Rice RHP Dane Myers (0-2, 3.04 ERA)
 
Series History: Rice leads 17-3
First meeting: Rice won 10-6 in Miami, Fla. (March 2, 1985)
Last meeting: Rice won 12-1 in Miami, Fla. (May 8, 2016)
 
Series Preview
FIU did not play a midweek game after losing two of three games against Charlotte to open Conference USA play last weekend. . .The Panthers have won 10 of their last 14 games heading into the series. . .FIU is second in the conference with 22 stolen bases. . .FIU pitching is fifth in the conference with a 3.95 ERA and second with 188 strikeouts. . .FIU catcher Zack Soria leads C-USA having caught nine baserunners attempting to steal. . .After its loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday, Rice has lost seven straight games and 10 of its last 12 games. . .Rice was swept by Old Dominion to start C-USA play last weekend. . .The Owls have committed the most errors (37) in the conference. . .Rice right-hander Matt Canterino is second in C-USA in opposing batting average (.156). FIU right-hander Robert Garcia (.139) leads C-USA in the category. . .FIU is 1-6 against Rice in Houston.
 
2017 Leaders
 
FIU
Team stats:
Average: .273
ERA: 3.95
Fielding pct.: .975
 
Individual leaders:
Average: Adam Sevario .364              
Home runs: JC Escarra, Zach Files 3                         
RBI: Irving Lopez, Javier Valdes 17
Stolen bases: Zack Soria 4
Wins: Four tied with 2
ERA: Robert Garcia 2.55
Strikeouts: Robert Garcia 32
Saves: Three tied with 1
 
Rice
Team stats:
Average: .267
ERA: 5.26
Fielding pct.: .953
 
Individual leaders:
Average: Dominic DiCaprio .375
Home runs: Darryn Sheppard, Dayne Wunderlich 2
RBI: Dominic DiCaprio 16
Stolen bases: Dane Myers 5
Wins: Evan Kravetz 2
ERA: Matt Canterino, Zach Esquivel 2.93
Strikeouts: Matt Canterino 40
Saves: Glenn Otto 2