On FIU Baseball Senior Day, four seniors drove in eight of the Panthers' 11 runs Saturday afternoon as FIU routed Western Kentucky, 11-2, at the FIU ballpark in the regular season finale.

The Panthers (31-25, 15-15 Conference USA) swept the Hilltoppers (16-39, 6-24) and locked up the No. 7 seed in the upcoming Conference USA tournament. FIU opens the tournament against No. 2 Old Dominion at 1:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday from Biloxi, Miss.

FIU enjoyed an offensive outburst throughout the weekend scoring 40 runs and collecting 40 hits against WKU pitching, highlighted by a 23-6 win Thursday night. More of the FIU hit parade occurred early Saturday when FIU sprinted to an 8-1 lead after three innings.

Knowing they had to win Saturday to secure the No. 7 seed and knock UTSA to No. 8, the Panthers scored quickly. Jack Schaaf and Zack Soria had back-to-back doubles off WKU starter Paul Kirkpatrick (2-9) in the first inning to plate the first run. Soria, the senior catcher, was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Soria later scored in the first inning after he tagged from second to third base on Kenny Meimerstorf's fly out to center. WKU center fielder Colie Currie's throw overshot shortstop Kevin Lambert and Soria scampered home from third base.

Senior Zach Files singled in the second inning and came home when senior C.J. Witkowski doubled into the right center field gap. Schaaf drove home Witkowski on an RBI single to make it 4-0, FIU.

The Panthers added four runs in the third on a two-run single by senior Irving Lopez and an RBI double by Schaaf, who was 3 for 4.

Lopez had the rare three-run single in the seventh inning thanks to a little help from senior speedster Kolby Follis. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Lopez knocked home JC Escarra and Files, who were at third and second base, respectively. Follis, who was at first base, did not stop running on the single to left center and scored to cap off the FIU tally at 11-2.

Lopez was 2 for 4 with five RBI. Files was 3 for 5 Saturday and 7 for 15 in the three-game series.

Nick MacDonald (7-2) started for FIU and went three innings, allowed one run. It was predetermined that MacDonald would go only three innings thus the right-hander collected his team-leading seventh win.

FIU honored 13 seniors in the Senior Day ceremony before the game: Michael Agis, Nick Day, Alex Demchak, Willy Fabra, Zach Files, Kolby Follis, Robert Garcia, Irving Lopez, Kenny Meimerstorf, Chris Mourelle, Zack Soria, Cain Spangler and C.J. Witkowski.