MIAMI - Coming off a road series victory over Western Kentucky, the FIU baseball program prepares to host crosstown rival, the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday, March. 26 from FIU Baseball Stadium set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Tuesday, Mar. 26 vs Miami Hurricanes
The Panthers notched their first CUSA road series of the year, taking two of three from the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. FIU run ruled Western Kentucky, 11-1, on Friday before taking the Sunday matinee, 7-3 to clinch the series. The 4-2 conference mark through six games is the best start in CUSA play since the 2014 season.
FIU matched up with Miami last Tuesday, March 19 falling just short in a 4-3 decision.
Austin Dearing hit a homer in the seventh before the Hurricanes stormed back in the eighth and ninth to take home the victory from Coral Gables.
THOSE BATS DID THEIR THING
In the Panthers wins over Western Kentucky, FIU combined for a total of 23 hits and 18 runs in the two-game span.
Overall on the season, the Panthers have recorded nine games with 10+ hits as a team, boasting the team batting average to .289 and a team-OPS of .872.
STAY HOT, AD!
Austin Dearing is on a tear in his past 10 games donning the Blue and Gold. The redshirt junior is currently on a 12-game on-base hit streak, while recording 11 hits in his past 12 games.
In the 12-game span, Dearing is hitting .452 (14-for-31) with seven RBIs, three 2Bs, and two homers. This past Sunday, March. 24 against Western Kentucky belted a grand slam to deep centerfield to put FIU over the Hilltoppers.
MY NAME IS JEFF
The DII transfer
Jeff Liquori has been an impactful force in the Panthers lineup, having played in all 24 games primarily in right field.
He sits first with 26 RBI driven on the year and second on the team in homers (6). Liquori has bumped his batting average up to .333 after notching 15 hits,11 RBI, and two doubles in his past eight games including a pair of homers in the stretch,
The Lake Mary, Fla. native has recorded a .469 batting average in throughout his eight-game hit streak including five-multi hit games. He rang up a pair of two-hit against Western Kentucky on March. 22 and March. 23..
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 24 games played, the senior is hitting .294 with 3 HR and 22 RBI (second on team). Guida has reached base in his past eight games with eight hits, five walks and two doubles.
IT'S ALEX'S WORLD AND WE ARE LIVING IN IT
Alex Ulloa has a found a groove with the Panthers in his recent stretch of hitting.
Ulloa has racked up 13 hits with five RBI in his past eight games played. The junior is currently on a seven-game hitting streak with four multi-hit games in that stretch alone.
Overall, Ulloa has eight multi-hit performances, boasting his batting average to a team lead of .373 in all 24 games played. In his past five games, Ulloa is hitting .389 with seven hits in 18 at-bats. His .995 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, 34 total as a ballclub. The 34 HRs sit second overall in Conference USA and 44th in the nation.
FIU belted four homers in the weekend series against Western Kentucky, led by
Kishon Frett's three HRs in all three games played out in Bowling Green. The redshirt junior now leads the pack with 9 HRs.
Alex Ulloa sits third 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 9 earned runs with 40 strikeouts and six saves in 16 games appeared.
Orlando Hernandez has yet to allow an earned run in his past 10.2 innings pitched, the best stretch for the senior in his time as a Panther, lowering his season ERA to 0.56.
Cabarcas earned the save after pitching 2.1 innings of work against Western Kentucky on March. 24 in a 7-3 win while striking out three out the bullpen. The senior leads all Panthers with four saves, already a career-high for the South Florida native.
MAKING STRIDES OUT THE PEN
Out the bullpen, FIU has shown solid flashes, especially over the weekend against the Hilltoppers.
In his past two performances, southpaw
Zac Lampton has yet to allow an earned run over his past four innings. He pitched 1.2 innings against Miami last weekend, including escaping a bases loaded jam.
Righty
Logan Runde took home the win out the bullpen this past Sunday, March 24 allowing one earned over three innings, lowering his ERA to under four.
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 HURRICANES
The Hurricanes enter the midweek matchup with an 13-10 overall and a 5-4 mark in ACC play. Miami dropped their series against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana. The Hurricanes lost the first two games, before coming away with a 12-10 victory in extras on Sunday.
Miami is among the nation's home run leaders, ranking 19th with 42.
The Hurricanes are led by freshman infielder Daniel Cuvet, who leads the team with a .407 batting average alongside 9 HRs and 30 RBi. Catcher Jason Torres has been an impactful bat, hitting .436 with eight homers and 26 driven in with six doubles.
On the mound, Nick Robert has a 3.60 ERA out the bullpen with 11 appearances alongside five wins in 20 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for pivotal CUSA home series against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from Thursday, March 28 – Saturday, March 30 from FIU Baseball Stadium. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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
