MIAMI – The FIU baseball team continues its nine-game homestand this weekend as the Panthers welcome the Bucknell Bison for a four-game series at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Thursday, March 13 vs Bucknell (6-8)
- Time / Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
- TBA vs Andrew Ildefonso (0-1, 2.70 ERA)
Friday, March 14 vs Bucknell (6-8)
Saturday, March 15 vs Bucknell (6-8)
- Time / Site: 5 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
- TBA vs Logan Runde (2-1, 3.15 ERA)
Sunday, March 16 vs Bucknell (6-8)
- Time / Site: 12 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
- TBA vs TBA
This matchup marks FIU's final non-conference weekend series before diving into Conference USA (CUSA) play next Friday, March 21, against Jacksonville State.
FIU enters the weekend with a 12-6 record, its best start since 2014 and the strongest under third-year head coach
Rich Witten.
The Panthers are coming off an 8-4 midweek loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, March 12, where they hit two home runs in the effort.
Offensively, FIU has been dominant at the plate, hitting .285 as a team with 305 total bases, which leads CUSA. The Panthers have recorded 172 hits, ranking second in the conference and 38th nationally, while their 142 runs scored also sit second in CUSA. Power hitting has been a key strength, with FIU launching 30 home runs this season, the most in CUSA and 13th in the nation. Over the last four games, the Panthers have hit seven home runs, with 13 different players contributing at least one this season. Seven players have recorded multiple homers.
Kishon Frett leads the team with six home runs, two triples, and a .329 batting average. His 48 total bases rank third in CUSA and 46th nationally.
Brylan West paces the Panthers with a .348 batting average and has three extra-base hits in his last two games, including two home runs against FAU on March 9 and a two-hit performance against FGCU. He also leads FIU with six doubles. Shortstop
Alex Ulloa, who has started all 18 games, is tied for the team lead in RBIs with 15 after hitting a three-run homer on Tuesday against FGCU.
Behind the plate,
Brendan Roney has been a consistent force, recording five hits and reaching base seven times in his last five games.
Cole Cleveland, a standout freshman, is also tied for the team lead with 15 RBIs and hit his second home run of the season against FGCU. Seven Panthers have recorded 10 or more RBIs this season.
FIU's pitching staff has been impressive, recording 198 strikeouts, the most in CUSA and ninth in the nation. The Panthers have posted double-digit strikeouts in 11 of their 18 games this season.
Easton Marks is second on the team with 24 strikeouts and a 2.04 ERA in four starts. On March 7, he threw a career-high six innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out five, including five no-hit frames to start the game.
David Eckaus has not allowed an earned run in his last 8.1 innings pitched, including a 5.1-inning, one-hit, six-strikeout performance last week.
Logan Runde has made a team-high six starts, logging 20 innings with 14 strikeouts.
Kevin Martin has been a key bullpen arm, throwing 14.1 innings in relief, including a three-inning outing with two runs allowed on March 9.
Juan Villarreal leads the team in strikeouts with 27.
HISTORY WITH BUCKNELL
This weekend's series marks the first-ever meeting between FIU and Bucknell.
SCOUTING THE BISON
Bucknell enters the weekend with a 6-8 overall record, coming off a pair of losses to Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, March 11. The Bison have picked up notable wins over Virginia Tech and secured a series victory against Davidson in late February.
Offensively, Michael Trommer leads Bucknell with 10 RBIs, while Billy Kender is second in RBIs with nine and tied for the team lead in hits with 13.
On the mound, Tyler O'Neill has been Bucknell's top starter, posting a 3.97 ERA in four starts. He has thrown 22.2 innings with 21 strikeouts, including a complete-game victory over Saint Joseph's on March 1.
Ben Magovern holds a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings, highlighted by a six-inning, no-earned-run, six-strikeout outing against Maine on March 8. In the bullpen, Jonathan Adelmann has been dominant, holding a 0.00 ERA in six appearances. He has struck out 18 batters in 11.2 scoreless innings while recording two saves.
UP NEXT
FIU begins Conference play on Friday, March 21 vs Jacksonville State. First pitch from FIU Baseball Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUBaseball on Facebook and @FIUBaseball on Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
