MIAMI – The FIU Baseball continues their homestand, hosting the Seton Hall Pirates for a four-game weekend set, and Bethune Cookman Wildcats for a midweek matchup, beginning on Friday, March 1 with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Friday, Mar. 1 vs Seton Hall
Saturday, Mar. 2 vs Seton Hall
- Time / Site: 5 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
- Live Stats
Sunday, Mar. 3 vs Seton Hall
- Time / Site 12 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
- Live Stats
Monday, Mar. 4 vs Seton Hall
Tuesday Mar. 5 vs Bethune Cookman
FIU is coming off a weekend split to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, highlighted by a Saturday doubleheader sweep with 10-8 and 10-5 wins over the ACC foe.
This weekend series against Seton Hall will mark the first meeting with both school since 2022 when FIU took both games in the round-robin style weekend with FIU also facing the Michigan Wolverines in that same weekend.
BALL GOES BOOM FRETT
The power was fully on display for junior
Kishon Frett, hitting four homers in that weekend series against the Fighting Irish.
Frett ht his first of the season on Friday with a two-run blast before hitting a pair of homers on Saturday in each of the games helping propel FIU to wins over Notre Dame.
On Sunday, Frett blasted his fourth homer of the season to deep centerfield in addition to logging his first triple of the year.
Currently, the Ocala, Fla. native is tied for second in Conference USA in HRs and third in slugging (.808).
WEST AND GUIDA SHOW
Brylan West and
Ryne Guida have each made strong impressions to open up the year.
As a duo, they have a combined 29 hits along with 22 RBIs and 5 HRs at the top of the Panthers batting order.
Against Notre Dame, West had hits in each of the past three games of the series including a run batted in. West leads CUSA in batting averags (.552) and second in total bases (29)
Guida showed off the power, securing a four-hit game in the 10-8 win that in included a pair of homers and 3 RBIs. In addition, the senior went 2-for-3 in the 10-5 victory with two 2Bs.
MAKE IT RAIN HOMERS
As a team, the Panthers lineup has been mashing the baseball, sitting second in the conference with 16 HRs.
Six players already have multi-HRs (
Armando Becerra, Frett, Guida,
Jeff Liquori,
Alex Ulloa, and West).
PITCHING SETS THE TONE
Notable Panthers made strong impressions vs the Fighting Irish.
Redshirt sophomore
Joel Pineiro made the start in game two on Saturday, showcasing his best start of his collegiate career, throwing five no-hit innings and struck out six. In his first eight innings thrown of the season, Pineiro has allowed only one run in that span.
Senior
Cameron Knox made his first career start as a Panther and shined, throwing to the tune of 3.1 innings allowing no hits and striking out five batters on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Junior
Logan Runde came out of the pen Saturday in game one's win, firing four innings of work on three runs and five strikeouts.
Orlando Hernandez earned the save in the 10-6 victory on Saturday, posting 2.1 innings thrown with three strikeouts.
Southpaw
David Eckaus threw 2.2 of no-run baseball Sunday afternoon and struck out a pair.
FRESH FACES
The 2024 roster features 22 newcomers for FIU including six freshmen to bolster the roster.
Notable key additions in DII transfer
Jeff Liquori who play various positions across the field. Seminole State College transfer
Kishon Frett will be a key power bat in the Panthers lineup, alongside South Florida State College transfer
Brylan West, and Erskine transfer
Armando Becerra. In the infield, Miami Dade CC transfer
Alex Ulloa is projected to play shortstop, while Tulane transfer
Chase Engelhard will get looks at second.
On the mound, JUCO additions
Logan Runde and
Ryan Reyerson will be pivotal pieces on the bump while freshmen
Tristan Dietrich and
Evan Alwine will get looks on the mound across the season.
MLB CONNECTIONS
FIU has multiple MLB connections on their roster as pitcher
Orlando Hernandez is the son of 4x World Series Champion Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and nephew of Marlins 1997 WS Champion Livan Hernandez.
Pitcher
Joel Pineiro is the son of 12-year MLB veteran
Joel Pineiro.
Pitcher
Owen Puk is the brother of current Marlins relief pitcher AJ Puk.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Seton Hall comes into the contest with a 5-2 record after securing a midweek victory at home vs Wagner on Feb. 27.
Offensively, the 2023 All-BIG East First Team member Staus Pokrovsky has led the way for the Pirates, collecting three hits against Wagner with a HR, double, and 4 RBIs. Pokrovsky leads the team in batting averag (.379), doubles (4), and HRs (2).
On the bump, Sunday starterr Anthony Ehly has allowed just one earned run in his first two starts, including four scorless innings against Georiga State on Feb. 25.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for a Saturday night clash versus the Pirates of Seton Hall on Saturday, Mar. 2 at 6 p.m.
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
