MIAMI - The FIU baseball program heads back home for a pivotal Conference USA three-game weekend series with the Dallas Baptist Patriots from FIU Baseball Stadium, beginning on Friday, April 26 for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
Friday, April. 26 vs Dallas Baptist
- Time / Site: 6:30 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
- Watch (ESPN+)
- Live Stats
- RHP Ryan Johnson (6-2, 2.02 ERA) vs RHP Cameron Knox (1-3, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday, April. 27 vs Dallas Baptist
- Time / Site: 5 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
- Watch (ESPN+)
- Live Stats
- RHP Jaron DeBerry (5-1, 3.40 ERA) vs RHP Joel Pineiro (2-2, 6.81 ERA)
Sunday, April. 28 vs Dallas Baptist
FIU, winners of their last four games, and currently on their longest winning streak of the season head into this weekend's contest off a sweep of New Mexico State. With the victories, FIU secured their first sweep in Conference USA of the season and first conference sweep since May of 2018 when FIU took three games against Western Kentucky in Bowling Green. The Panthers currently sit in third place in CUSA with a conference mark of 10-5 and a overall record of 23-17, which is already the most wins for the program since 2019.
Dallas Baptist and FIU will matchup for the third time in program history as the Panthers headed to Dallas, Texas last season, dropping two out of three before salvaging the series on Sunday, March. 19 in an 7-6 victory to the Patriots. Prior, FIU hosted Dallas Baptist in 2004 from April 15 - 17 to Miami in their first meeting.
BOOGIE WONDERLAND OF RUNS
The offense put on a masterclass in Las Cruces as the team scored a total of 49 runs on 61 hits, 17 doubles, and 11 home runs, all season-highs in a weekend series. In addition, it is the most scored runs in a series since 2020.
FIU logged 18+ hits or more in each of the three games including a pair of 20-hit performances as a ballclub on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20. On Saturday, FIU racked up 23 hits, which was the most since March 29, 2016 vs Bethune Cookman. In addition, the team hit seven doubles on a Saturday, the most doubles in a game since March 1, 2015 vs Manhattan.
Overall, on the season, the Panthers have recorded 20 games with 10+ hits as a team, boasting the team batting average to .304 and a team-OPS of .904.
As a unit, FIU's offense has been lethal with the bat in CUSA play. In 15 games, they are first in the conference in hits (197), and runs (156) and batting average of .356.
THAT'S A CYCLE BROTHER
This past Saturday,
Armando Becerra put his name in the FIU record book, securing the second cycle in program history and first since 1980 when Joe Hughes earned the feat on March 23, 1980 vs UCF.
Becerra went 5-for-6 on Saturday alongside seven runs driven in and had the eventual game-winning hit in the ninth alongside the cycle. He got the day started on a RBI double in the first, two-run homer in the second, and a RBI single in the third. The triple came in the seventh on a three-bagger laced down the right field line.
In addition, it was part of a sensational weekend for the senior who had nine hits with nine RBIs and three home runs versus Las Cruces. He hit a home run in each of the three games played on the road.
With his efforts, Becerra won Conference USA hitter of the week alongside winning the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) Co-Hitter of the Week honor.
On a national stage, the senior from Hialeah, Fla.
was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter on Sunday, April 21 for his performance on Saturday.
Becerra is on a six-game hitting streak with 14 hits and 10 RBI in that stretch, hitting .518 (14-for-27).
THEY CALL HIM THE HIT MACHINE
Ryne Guida has continued to be a pivotal piece in the top order of the Panthers lineup as the designated hitter, currently on his best stretch of the season.
The senior is currently on a 25 game on-base streak, his longest active streak of the season. In his current stretch, Guida has 33 hits, nine doubles, 25 RBIs, while playing in all 40 games played. He is currently hitting .27, leading the pack with 12 doubles, 40 RBI, and has belted six homers.
It was a stellar weekend for Guida, posting seven hits including a pair of three-hit games on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20. On Saturday, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native went 3-for-6 with three runs batted in and a solo shot.
PARTY IN THE BWEST BACKYARD
Hitting in the leadoff spot,
Brylan West has found a nice groove at the top of the order with his return to the lineup.
The case was made against New Mexico State, totaling for nine hits on 10 RBI, 3 HRs, 3 doubles, and a triple in the three games played on the road. West's highlight of the weekend came on Sunday, April 21 with a four-hit afternoon, driving in a career-high of seven RBI in a game while belting a pair of homers in the 18-6 win.
The redshirt junior leads the team in batting average (.351), triples (2), and second in doubles (11). His OPS in conference play (1.269) is sixth overall in CUSA.
MY NAME IS JEFF
The DII transfer
Jeff Liquori has been an impactful force in the Panthers lineup, having played in all 40 games primarily in right field.
He sits second with 37 RBI driven on the year and second on the team in homers (8). Liquori has bumped his batting average up to a team-leading .331 after six hits along multi-hit performances in all three games at New Mexico State.
In his past five games, Liquori has eight hits in his past five games with six RBI.
THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE
As a collective unit, the Panthers offense has lit up the box score with homers, 59 total as a ballclub. The 59 HRs is second in Conference USA and 58th in the nation.
The power is led by
Kishon Frett, who leads the pack with 12 homers on his campaign, including a two-run homer on Sunday, April 21
West sits third with seven. Alex Ulloa and
Austin Dearing, and Guida are tied with six.
RYLU MAKING MOVES
Out the bullpen,
Ryan Cabarcas has a been a standout piece for
Rich Witten's staff.
The redshirt senior has made 14 appearances with a 1.93 ERA, his best season thus far in a collegiate uniform. In 32.2 innings pitched, he has allowed just seven earned runs, struck out 44 batters, while limiting hitters to a .230 batting average. Cabarcas has compiled five saves, a career-high and team-lead this season.
Cabarcas is coming off a win this past Friday, April 19, working 4.1 innings on no earned runs and five strikeouts in the 13-11 win at New Mexico State.
This past Wednesday, Cabarcas was named to the 2024 Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch Listas announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
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 PATRIOTS
Dallas Baptist heads into this weekend's conference contest with a 28-11 (7-5 CUSA) record and fifth in Conference USA. The Patriots are coming off a weekend series loss to Louisiana Tech and a midweek loss to TCU on Tuesday, April 23.
As a program, Dallas Baptist has made the NCAA Regionals in nine of the past ten years including making an appearance in 2023 following a 47-25 record in their first season in Conference USA.
Offensively, junior Chayton Krauss has paced the Patriots, leading the pack with 41 RBI and 12 home runs alongside a .338 batting average. Fifth-year Ethan Mann has logged 17 doubles this season with a .340 batting clip.
On the mound, top MLB draft pitching prospect Ryan Johnson is set to pitch Friday night and has been stellar on the mound with a 2.02 ERA in ten starts this season. He has thrown 71.1 innings while striking out 106 batters and has thrown two complete games.
In his last start against Louisiana Tech on April 19, Johnson thrown 6.1 innings on four earned runs and tied his career-high of 15 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for game two of the series against the Patriots on Saturday, April 27 for a 5 p.m. first pitch from Miami. It can 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.
