MIAMI (Feb 14, 2020) – In the waning hours before first pitch of the 2020 season, FIU ace Logan Allen was named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List on Friday.  
 
The USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top amateur baseball player in the county.
 
The preseason watch list features 55 of the nation's top amateur players, from high school and college baseball with a Allen being the only player named to the list from Conference USA.
 
Fan nominations and voting will once again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2020. Amateur baseball fans will be able to nominate their favorite players to be in consideration for the 2020 award starting February 14 until April 6 on GoldenSpikesAward.com, prior to the announcement of the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. In addition, fans will once again be able to vote for their favorite players, starting on May 14 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists.
 
USA baseball will announce the finalists for the award on May 28 and the winner of the 43^rd Golden Spikes Award will be named June 11 in Omaha.

Allen, who was named to the All-CUSA First Team in 2019, built on his Freshman All-American campaign in 2018 by leading all of C-USA with 120 Ks in 84 innings pitched for a 12.86 Ks-per-9 innings ratio to place top 15 in the nation in that category. His pitching prowess was on display when the Deltona, Florida native went 32.2 innings without surrendering an earned run to start league play.
 
The lefty went 4-6 on the mound with a 3.11 ERA and held opposing batters to a .231 average, while winning three C-USA Pitcher of the Week honors. Allen's three weekly honors as a pitcher were tied for the most in the league this past season. 
 
Over the summer, Allen dominated the Cape Cod Baseball League by striking out 24 batters over 15 scoreless innings for the Harwich Mariners before donning the Stars and Stripes to pitch for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in July.
 
The right-handed hitting Allen hit .276 in 76 at-bats with 21 hits in 2019. He also slugged three home runs and drove in five in his limited ABs.
 
Allen is the only player from a Conference USA program to be named an All-American by Baseball America and one of only five from non-Power Five schools. For all three teams, click here.   

FIU opens the season on Friday, Feb. 14 at home as the Panthers host Fordham. First pitch between the Panthers and Rams is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Season tickets for the 2020 season can be purchased by clicking here. The Panthers return a veteran core of talented players in 2020, supplemented with another highly-touted recruiting class. FIU will seek a return to postseason action for the first time since 2015 once the baseball season rolls around in February. 
 
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