MIAMI – For the first time this season, the FIU baseball program heads out of the state of Florida traveling to Bowling Green, Kentucky for their first road CUSA series of the season, taking on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers for a three-game weekend set.
Friday, March. 22 at Western Kentucky
Saturday, March. 23 at Western Kentucky
Sunday, March. 24 at Western Kentucky
The Panthers are coming off a midweek loss to the Miami Hurricanes this past Tuesday, March.19 in a 4-3 defeat from Coral Gables. FIU took the lead in the seventh on an
Austin Dearing solo homer before Miami rallied back to walk-off in the ninth.
FIU resumes Conference USA action after taking down the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders for the series win last weekend at home, notably scoring 27 runs in the final two games.
HOP ON A JET
FIU heads up to Bowling Green this weekend, marking the first opponent they will face outside the state of Florida for the first time in 2024.
Through the first 21 games, the Panthers played exclusively in the state of Florida against the likes of Bethune Cookman (Daytona Beach), Florida Atlantic (Boca Raton), and Miami (Coral Gables).
The Panthers will field road series at Jacksonville State (April 5-7), at New Mexico State (April 19-21), at Liberty (May 3-5) and at Iowa (May 16-18).
STAY HOT, AD!
Austin Dearing is on a tear in his past seven games, donning the Blue and Gold. The redshirt junior is currently on a seven-game hit streak, nine-game on-base hit streak, while recording 12 hits in his past seven games.
In the seven-game span, Dearing is hitting .571 (12-for-21) with four RBIs, three 2Bs, and a homer. This past Tuesday versus the Miami Hurricanes, the Hurricane, W.Va. recorded a career-night, going 3-for-4 to lead all Panther hitters.
MY NAME IS JEFF
The DII transfer
Jeff Liquori has been an impactful force in the Panthers lineup, having played in all 21 games primarily in right field.
He is tied for the team-lead in HR and sits first with 22 RBI driven on the year. Liquori has bumped his batting average up to .318 after notching 10 hits and seven RBIs in his past five games including a pair of homers in the stretch, vs FGCU on March. 13 and vs Middle Tennessee on March. 17.
The Lake Mary, Fla. native has recorded a .476 batting average in throughout his five-game hit streak including three-multi hit games.
THEY CALL HIM THE HIT MACHINE
Ryne Guida has continued to be a pivotal in the top order of the Panthers lineup as the designated hitter.
In all 21 games played, the senior is hitting .315 with 3 HR and 20 RBI (second on team). Guida has reached base in his past five games with six hits, four walks and a double.
IT'S ALEX'S WORLD AND WE ARE LIVING IN IT
Alex Ulloa has a found of groove with the Panthers in his recent stretch of hitting.
The junior Ulloa has racked up nine hits with five RBI in his past five games played. Ulloa recorded multi-hit efforts in all three-games versus the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders with a pair of three-hit games.
Overall, Ulloa has eight multi-hit performances, boasting his batting average to a team lead of .386 in all 21 games played. In his past five games, Ulloa is hitting .643 with nine hits in 14 at-bats. His 1.062 OPS is second on the team behind
Brylan West (1.082).
THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE
As a collective unit, the Panthers offense has lit up the box score with homers, 30 total as a ballclub. The 30 HRs sit second overall in Conference USA and 46th in the nation.
FIU belted four homers in the weekend series against Middle Tennessee, including three in the Sunday clincher that was highlighted by all HRs hit in the sixth inning.
Kishon Frett and
Jeff Liquori are tied for the team-lead in homers (6).
Alex Ulloa sits second with four, while
Ryne Guida and
Brylan West have three each.
ONE-TWO PUNCH OUT THE PEN
The bullpen duo of Ryan Cabarcas and
Orlando Hernandez have shined out the pen for the Panthers as the seniors have allowed just 7 earned runs with 35 strikeouts and five saves in 14 games appeared.
Orlando Hernandez has yet to allow an earned run in his past 8.2 innings pitched. Cabarcas earned the win after pitching three innings of work against Middle Tennessee on March. 17 in a 16-6 win while striking out five to earn the win out the bullpen.
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 HILLTOPPERS
Western Kentucky enters their CUSA series opener with a 15-7 mark, off a midweek 5-3 victory vs Southern Indiana this past Tuesday, March 19.
The Hilltoppers are led by junior infielder Blake Cavill, who leads the team with a .363 batting average alongside 3 HRs, 10 2B (third in CUSA), and 21 RBI (team-highs). Outfielder Ethan Lizama has been an impactful bat, hitting .359 with three homers and 19 driven in.
On the mound, Western Kentucky fields a strong pitching staff with a team ERA of 3.92 that sit second in Conference USA and 23rd in the nation. Sophomore Dawson Hall leads the pack with an ERA of 0.50 in four starts, giving up just an earned run in 18 innings. Starter Jack Bennett sports an ERA of 3.00 in three starts, having allowed eight earned runs in 24 innings thrown. Out the bullpen, Mason Burns is the saves leader (4), striking out 20 batters in 13.2 innings.
The series history dates back to 2000 as both teams have faced each other 33 times with FIU holding the 20-13 edge in the series. The Panthers last took down the Hilltoppers on Friday, May 5th in an 8-1 victory from Miami.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for the middle game of the series against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, March. 23 for a 5 p.m. first pitch from Nick Denes Field. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram
