MIAMI (May 17, 2023) – The FIU baseball team heads to Houston to take on Rice for a chance to make the 2023 C-USA Tournament.
 
Game one is on Thursday May 18 with first pitch set for 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on C-USA TV.
 
SO WHAT'S THE THE SCENARIO
Heading into the final regular season series, FIU is in a three-way tie for the final spot in the C-USA Tournament with Rice and UAB.
 
With The Panthers and Rice facing each other the winner of the series eliminates the other team but does not guarantee a Tournament spot for themselves.
 
UAB beat FIU in the regular season so they hold the first tie breaker over the Panthers. Rice beat UAB in the regular season and holds the first tie breaker over the Blazers.
 
FIU needs to beat Rice and finish a game better than UAB, who is hosting FAU. Rice has to beat FIU for a chance make the tournament, with a 2-1 series win over the Panthers and a sweep by UAB being the only way the Blazers can pass the Owls.
 
THE HITS KEEP ROLLING
FIU currently boasts three starters hitting above .300 after 52 games.
 
Junior Ryne Guida has been the Panthers most consistent hitters in 2023. His .361 average, 46 RBI and 73 hits are all a team highs. Guida also reached the double digit mark in home runs with his solo shot against No. 11 Miami on Tuesday night.
 
Alec Sanchez has been on an absolute tear to close out the regular season. He is currently on a 34-game on-base streak. He is hitting .337 and leads the team in home runs with 13 and walks with 25.
 
FIU leadoff man Mike Rosario is third in average at .325. He leads the team in runs and steals at 50 and 20, respectively.
 
IN BUNCHES
In 2023 FIU has pushed home 319 runs across 52 games.
 
They have scored at least five runs in 31 games and reached double digits 10 times.
 
LEADERS IN THE PACK
The C-USA stat leader top 10s are littered with Panthers.
 
Rosario is number six in runs, sixth in hits and is tied for the lead in steals.
 
Guida ranks third in average, third in hits and 10th in OPS.
 
Sanchez sits seventh in OPS and eighth in home runs.
 
In the field, Figueroa and Girardi have been leading the way.
 
Girardi leads C-USA in assists with 143.
 
Figueroa has registered the fourth most putouts in C-USA with 400.
 
The duo are tied for the most double plays turned with 67.
 
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Rice is 19-34 this season and are coming off a 0-3 series loss to Western Kentucky.
 
Junior Connor Walsh has been a key component in the Rice offense. He is hitting .293 with 51 hits, 37 RBI, nine home runs and a team-high 11 steals.
 
Sophomore Parker Smith has been a top arm for the Owls in 2023. In his 79.2 innings he is 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 76 strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers and Owls face off in game two of the series on Friday May 19 with first pitch set for 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on C-USA TV.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIU.Baseball), Twitter (@FIUBaseball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUBaseball) for all the latest Baseball news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.