MIAMI (May 1, 2014) – The FIU baseball team (31-12, 11-10) travels to East Carolina this weekend for a three-game set with the Pirates. Following a 6 p.m. contest on Friday, the Panthers will be televised live nationally via Sun Sports in South Florida. That contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. Sunday's series finale will be at 1 p.m.
 
Quick Hitters
- Panther pitching has boasted a team ERA of 1.93, which as of Monday, April 28, ranks first in the country.
- FIU has posted 14 shutouts this season,  which is first in the country as of Monday, April 28. It is also a Conference USA single season record. The Panthers hold the second most shutouts in a single season in school history, trailing the 1995 team by two (16).
- Friday night's starter Mike Franco is sixth in the country with a 0.95 ERA. He is also tied for ninth in the country in strikeouts with 89.
- FIU's weekend pitching rotation has a cumulative ERA of 1.34, the lowest of any weekend rotation in the nation.
- Senior closer Mike Gomez is just one save away from breaking the school's all-time career saves record. He has earned 23 career saves, tying Ozzie Lugo (2000-01) for the most in school history.
- Junior Josh Anderson and sophomore Edwin Rios each have started 101-straight games.
- Franco and freshman Chris Mourelle have each been named to the National Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List, presented by Diamond. In total, there are 47 players on the list, six of the pitchers being from Conference USA.
- Aramis Garcia has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, an award that recognizes the nation's top catcher.
 
Series History vs. East Carolina
- This will be the first matchup ever between the Pirates and Panthers.
 
Scouting the Pirates
- East Carolina enters the weekend with a 28-18 overall record and a 13-8 mark in C-USA play.
- The Pirates are hitting .276 overall as a team this season, and have boasted a .278 mark in Conference play.
- ECU is led by Zach Houchins, who is hitting .349 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI. Preseason C-USA Co-Player of the Year
- Drew Reynolds is hitting .328 with 10 extra-base hits and 16 RBI. He is also part of a Pirate pitching staff that has posted a 2.89 team ERA.
 
Panther Pitching Near the Top in National Rankings
- As of Monday, FIU pitching currently ranks first in the country in team ERA.
- The Panthers team ERA currently sits at 1.93 entering this weekend's three-game set with East Carolina.
- FIU has 18 games this season in which it has posted a zero in the earned runs column.
- FIU also leads the country with 14 shutouts.
 
Panther Weekend Rotation Among Nation's Best
- FIU's weekend rotation consisting of Mike Franco (Friday), Cody Crouse (Saturday) and Chris Mourelle (Sunday) has posted a combined ERA of 1.34, the lowest weekend rotation ERA in the country.
- FIU is one of five teams that have a weekend rotation ERA lower than 2.00 and the only team with a weekend rotation ERA of 1.50 or lower.
- Each of FIU's weekend starters have an ERA lower than 2.00 (Franco 0.90, Crouse 1.35, Mourelle 1.82).
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@o) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUBaseball) for all the latest FIU Baseball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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Fans can purchase tickets online, over the phone by calling 305-FIU-GAME, or in person at the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse Box Office. Tickets cost just $5 and group pricing is available for groups of 20 or more. Student admission is free to all FIU baseball home games.
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.