MIAMI – The FIU baseball team is set for a weekend showdown against in-state rival Florida Atlantic, facing off in a three-game series.

Friday, March 7 vs Florida Atlantic (10-2)

• Time / Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Trey Beard (2-0 3.00 ERA) vs Easton Marks (2-0, 1.54 ERA)

Saturday, March 8 at Florida Atlantic (10-2)

• Time / Site: 4 p.m. ET at FAU Baseball Stadium
• Tyler Murphy (1-0, 6.59 ERA) vs Owen Puk (1-0, 5.52 ERA)

Sunday, March 9 vs Florida Atlantic (10-2)

• Time / Site: 12 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• James Litman (1-0. 0.00 ERA) vs Logan Runde (2-0, 1.80 ERA)

The Panthers will host Friday and Sunday's matchups at FIU Baseball Stadium, while Saturday's game will be played at FAU Baseball Stadium. The teams will meet again on Tuesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in Boca Raton, Fla.
 
FIU (11-3) enters the weekend following a midweek battle against Miami, falling 7-3 at loanDepot Park on March 4. The Panthers erased an early 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth inning before surrendering a grand slam.
 
FIU's offense has been a driving force through the first 14 games, boasting a .303 team batting average with 118 hits (18th nationally) and 122 runs scored (21st nationally). The Panthers have also displayed power at the plate, launching 23 home runs—ranking first in Conference USA and 23rd in the country.
 
Senior Kishon Frett leads the charge, hitting .382 with 44 total bases, five home runs (fourth in CUSA), and two triples. He was named CUSA Hitter of the Week after a dominant series against Merrimack, where he recorded 11 hits, six RBIs, three home runs, and a triple. He also leads the team in hit-by-pitches (10).
 
Leadoff hitter Brylan West has been a key catalyst, reaching base in 12 of 13 games. The senior is hitting .365 with a team-high five doubles, eight RBIs, and two home runs. Alex Ulloa has been a steady presence, batting .341 (14-for-41) with four doubles and five RBIs, including a recent three-game hitting streak

Austin Dearing has driven in 14 RBIs, tying for the team lead, including a RBI single vs Miami. This past weekend, he posted a two-home run performance on March 1 in the 7-6 win vs Merrimack.

Freshman Cole Cleveland has made an early impact, hitting .321 with 12 RBIs and alongside five hits over his last five games.
 
Albert Serrano has delivered in clutch situations, including a game-winning RBI single in a 7-6 victory over Merrimack. Meanwhile, Javier Crespo and Kareh Valentin showcased the team's infield depth against Miami, combining for four hits and two doubles.
 
Behind the plate, Brendan Roney has been a reliable presence, starting eight games. Against Miami, he reached base three times and threw out a baserunner.
 
FIU's pitching staff has been a vital part of the team, ranking fourth nationally with 167 strikeouts. The Panthers have recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 10 games this season.
 
Reliever Juan Villarreal has been outstanding, posting a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings with a team-high 20 strikeouts. He has not allowed a run in his last eight innings. Easton Marks ranks second on the team with 19 strikeouts and holds a 2-0 record in 11.2 innings.

Saturday's starter Owen Puk has tallied 16 strikeouts in 14.2 innings and is coming off a career-high five-inning outing against Merrimack. Logan Runde (1.80 ERA) has made five starts, while lefty reliever David Eckaus has not allowed a run in his last six innings.
 
Jaydon Bishop has been stellar out of the bullpen, lowering his ERA to 1.86 after a two-inning shutout performance against Miami. Sixth-year pitcher Kevin Martin has appeared in six games, allowing no runs in his last four innings.

HISTORY WITH THE OWLS 
Friday marks the 138th all-time meeting between FIU and FAU, dating back to 1981.

Last season, the Panthers split a four-game series with the Owls, including a 1-0 shutout win on April 16, 2024.

FIU has won the last three matchups at FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic enters the weekend at 10-2 after falling 4-2 to No. 7 Florida on March 5. The Owls have secured key wins over UCF and Miami while also taking series victories against Delaware, UConn, and Fordham.
 
Offensively, FAU is hitting .309 as a team, led by junior Jake Duer, who boasts a .491 average with 26 hits in 12 games. Jake Millan leads the team in RBIs (13) and home runs (3), while John Martinez is batting .342 with nine RBIs.
 
On the mound, Trey Beard has been dominant as the Friday starter, holding a 3.00 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 15 innings. Tyler Murphy (Saturday starter) has posted a 3.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings, while Sunday starter James Litman has yet to allow a run in 13.1 innings.

In the bullpen, MJ Bollinger leads the team in saves (3) with a 2.45 ERA in seven appearances this season in 11 innings thrown.

UP NEXT
FIU host Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, March 11 for midweek action at FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 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.