MIAMI - The FIU baseball program heads to Coral Gables this Wednesday, May 8 for the third installment of the crosstown clash against the Miami Hurricanes for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

Wednesday, May. 8 at Miami Hurricanes

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field
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• LHP #38 David Eckaus (2-1, 5.61 ERA) vs LHP #48 Ashton Crowther (1-4, 5.45 ERA)

FIU enters the contest 24-22 overall on the season as they head to Coral Gables to take on the Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday, May 8. It will be the first of two consecutive midweek matchups with the Panthers hosting the Hurricanes next Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m.

The Panthers are coming off a series loss to the Liberty Flames on the road in Lynchburg, Va taking game one on Friday, May 3 in a 10-7 before dropping the final two games of the series.

FIU looks to notch their first victory against the Miami Hurricanes, losing the first two midweek contests. In the first matchup in Coral Gables on March. 19, FIU lost 4-3 in a close affair before falling 14-7 on March. 26 from FIU Baseball Stadium. 

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 31 game on-base streak, his longest active streak of the season. In his current stretch, Guida has 43 hits, 12 doubles, 33 RBIs, while playing in all 46 games played. He is currently hitting .335 (second on team), leading the pack with 15 doubles (seventh in CUSA), 48 RBI (leads team), and has belted seven homers.

Guida posted seven hits over the weekend against the Liberty, including a pair of three-hit games on May. 3 and May. 4. He went 3-4 with four RBIs in the 10-7 victory on Friday, May 3. In game two, he blasted a three-run homer before securing a 3-for-6 afternoon on Saturday, May 4 with a RBI double.

LET'S HAVE A PARTY AT THE BWEST BACKYARD!
It was a productive weekend at the plate for the Panther's leadoff hitter Brylan West.

West had six hits against the Flames, including a pair of multi-hit efforts in the final two games of the series. Alongside his six hits, the redshirt junior had 4 RBI, one home run and one double. West went 3-for-6 on Saturday, May 4 with a solo home run (8th of the season), and a two-run double (12th of the year). He had a pair of hits in game two on Friday, May 3.

The Tampa, Fla. native leads the team in batting (.338) and a OPS of 1.058 (8th in Conference USA).  In addition, he leads the pack in triples (2). In his past ten games, West is hitting .372 with 16 hits total, 4 home runs, 14 RBI, and 4 doubles.

THOSE BATS OOZE CONFIDENCE
Overall, on the season, the Panthers have recorded 22 games with 10+ hits as a team, boasting the team batting average to .299 (56th in the nation) and a team-OPS of .882.

The team has totaled for 471 hits, third in CUSA.

As a unit, FIU's offense has been lethal with the bat in CUSA play. In 21 games, they are first in the conference in hits (250), and runs (187) and batting average of .330.

Six players are hitting well over the .300 mark, beginning with West, who leads the offense with a .338 in 40 games. Guida is sporting a .335 batting average, while Alex Ulloa has been hitting at a consistent .331 clip. The cycle king Armando Becerra is hitting .322. Jeff Liquori has posted a .319 average and Austin Dearing is hitting .313.

AN AFTERNOON WITH EL JEFE
Senior Jeff Liquori had the bat rolling on Saturday, May 4 against the Flames with a career-day of five hits in a single game.

The Lake Mary, Fla. native had five hits alongside two doubles, and a RBI on the afternoon. Liquori had a total of six hits on the weekend with three RBI.

The outfielder has played in all 46 games this season with 17 multi-hit efforts this season, with nine coming in CUSA play.

THAT BALL IS OUTTA HERE
As a collective unit, the Panthers offense has lit up the box score with homers, 63 total as a ballclub. The 63 HRs is fifth in Conference USA and 82nd in the nation. With over two weeks of regular season baseball left, FIU sits 13th in program history in homers hit in a season.

The power is led by Kishon Frett, who leads the pack with 13 homers on his campaign.

Jeff Liquori and Brylan West are second tied with eight. Alex Ulloa and Ryne Guida have seven while Austin Dearing has belted six.

COOL, CALM, & COLLECTED ALEX
Alex Ulloa has a solid weekend at the plate with helpful efforts in the middle order of the Panthers lineup.

The shortstop had five hits including two multi-hit games against the Flames on May. 3 and 4. Currently, the junior is hitting .331 with seven homers and 31 RBI, playing in all 46 games played. His batting average of .369 ranks 11th in CUSA and 16 RBI in conference play.

LIGHT THE LAMPTON
Lefty Zac Lampton continues to build on his breakout senior season leading the pitching staff with 52 strikeouts, already a career-high with a 3.28 ERA in 38.1 innings.

He earned his third win in relief on Friday, May 3 in the 10-7 win, working 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits on one earned run and a pair of punchouts. In his past ten appearances, Lampton has given up just four earned runs in 11.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.

KEEP IT ROLLING ORLY
Senior relief pitcher  Orlando Hernandez dropped his team-leading ERA to 1.57 on Saturday, April 27 vs Dallas Baptist with a solid outing of three scoreless innings with four strikeouts for the Miami native. 

In 13 appearances, Hernandez has given up just six earned runs in 34.1 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts. He is having the best stretch in his college career thus far.

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 21-25 overall and a 8-16 mark in ACC play. Miami is coming off a series home victory against the BYU Cougars this past weekend at home, taking two of three, before dropping the series finale on Saturday, May 4 in an 8-2 decision.

The Hurricanes are led by freshman infielder Daniel Cuvet, who leads the team with a .351 batting average alongside 17 HR and 51 RBI. His 17 HR are tied f or the second-most by a Hurricane freshman in program history, matching Ryan Braun, Blake Cyr and Phil Lane. Junior Dorian Gonzalez Jr. has played in all 46 games sporting a .319 batting average with six homers and 40 RBI.

Lefty Ashton Crowther will make his second start against the Panthers on Wednesday. In 12 games including six starts, he sports a 5.45 ERA in 33.0 innings. He last pitched against Georgia Tech on April. 28, working 0.2 innings. Crowther pitched against the Panthers on March. 19 and March. 26, allowing a combined three earned runs in 9.1 innings. He made the start on March. 26 at FIU Baseball Stadium, working 4.1 innings allowing six hits and gave up three earned runs.

UP NEXT
FIU prepares for it's final CUSA series of the year as they welcome in Sam Houston Bearkats to FIU Baseball Stadium for a pivotal three-game weekend series. First pitch on Friday, May 10 is set for 6 p.m. and all games can be streamed on ESPN+.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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