MIAMI – The FIU baseball program hits the road this weekend for a pivotal Conference USA (CUSA) matchup against Kennesaw State from S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field.

Thursday, April 17 vs Kennesaw State (17-19 (7-5 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. ET at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field

Friday, April 18 vs Kennesaw State (17-19 (7-5 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. ET at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field

Saturday, April 19 vs Kennesaw State (17-19 (7-5 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 1 p.m. at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field

The Panthers enter their fifth CUSA series of the season with a 22-14 overall record and a 6-5 mark in league play. FIU is coming off a series win over New Mexico State, outscoring the Aggies 17-4 in the final two games. The Panthers dropped their most recent contest—a midweek game—against FGCU, falling 13-3 on Tuesday, April 15.
 
FIU's 22-14 start marks its best since 2014 and currently positions the team fifth in the CUSA standings.
 
Offensively, FIU has been among the conference's most dynamic teams, posting a .288 team batting average—fifth-best in CUSA—and ranking fourth in total bases (574). The Panthers have driven in 253 runs (top three in the league) and launched 50 home runs, the second-most in the conference and 47th nationally. Sixteen of those home runs have come in league play. Over the last 10 games, the Panthers have hit .299 with 102 hits and 13 home runs.
 
FIU also ranks eighth nationally in hit-by-pitches (87) and 20th in sacrifice flies (20).
 
Redshirt senior Kishon Frett continues to lead the charge, earning his second CUSA Hitter of the Week award after hitting four home runs and driving in six runs last weekend. Frett has homered in four straight games, including a multi-homer outing in Saturday's 8-2 win over New Mexico State. He leads FIU with 14 home runs—second in CUSA and 16th nationally—and shares the team lead with 30 RBI while slugging a team-best .715. His eight home runs in conference play are the most in CUSA this season.
 
Brylan West has reached base in 11 consecutive games, collecting 16 hits with six multi-hit performances in that span. He leads FIU in hits (47) and ranks second on the team in both home runs (8) and total bases (79). The senior added a two-run single at FGCU on Tuesday and recorded three hits during the New Mexico State series.
 
Shortstop Alex Ulloa, the only Panther to start all 36 games this season, is tied for the team lead with 30 RBI and leads the team in doubles (9).
 
Austin Dearing has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, tallying six hits, three RBI, and two doubles in the series against New Mexico State. He followed that up with a two-hit game at FGCU. The redshirt senior is batting .333 on the season and .485 (16-for-33) over his last 10 games.
 
Javier Crespo has emerged as a key contributor, driving in 13 runs over the last 12 games as the starting utility infielder. He's batting .338 across 28 appearances this season.
 
Andrew Ildefonso leads the team in batting average (.354) and has recorded a hit in 15 of his last 16 games. He tallied four RBI and a home run in Sunday's win over New Mexico State and now totals 24 RBI, eight doubles, and a triple on the year.
 
Behind the plate, Brendan Roney has made 16 starts and is riding a five-game hitting streak while collecting five RBI on the season.
 
On the mound, the FIU pitching staff has compiled 360 strikeouts over 36 games—most in CUSA and 19th nationally. The team has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 19 games.
 
Left-hander Juan Villarreal leads the staff with 53 strikeouts and holds a 3.16 ERA over 37 innings with a 6-1 record and two saves. He earned the win last Sunday with 4.2 scoreless innings and matched his season-high with seven strikeouts.
 
Owen Puk has solidified his role in the rotation, allowing just two earned runs over his last 16 innings with 27 strikeouts. He notched a career-high nine strikeouts over four innings in Saturday's victory.
 
Logan Runde has made 12 appearances (nine starts) and provided four scoreless innings in relief on Saturday. Easton Marks leads the team in innings pitched (42) with a 4.07 ERA and 48 strikeouts, allowing just one run in four innings on Friday.
 
Kevin Martin has surrendered just two earned runs over his last 6.1 innings, including one run in three frames on Sunday. Jarek Woodward gave up one run across 2.2 innings on April 11, while Tracen Cameron struck out four in 2.1 scoreless innings in Friday's win over New Mexico State.
 
HISTORY WITH THE OWLS
This weekend marks the first-ever meeting between FIU and Kennesaw State, which is competing in its first year as a member of Conference USA.

SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
Kennesaw State enters the series with a 17-19 overall record and a 7-5 mark in CUSA play, currently sitting fourth in the league standings. The Owls own series wins over Western Kentucky and are coming off a sweep of Sam Houston.

The offense is paced by reigning co-CUSA Hitter of the Week Nate Anderson, who leads the team in hits (46) and ranks second in batting average (.313). He tallied six hits, six RBI, two doubles, and a triple in the Sam Houston series, and followed up with a three-hit performance and a home run against West Georgia.

Cooper Williams leads the team in batting average (.324), while Donovan Cash tops the Owls in doubles (14), home runs (8), and RBI (32).

On the mound, Harry Cain leads the Owls in ERA (3.46) over five starts. He is coming off a dominant outing with seven shutout innings and nine strikeouts at Sam Houston on April 12. Smith Pinson has made 13 appearances (three starts) and struck out nine over 5.2 innings in that same series. Freshman Ty Bayer has started eight games, tallying 32 strikeouts across 33.2 innings.

Bo Rhudy has two saves and a 3.96 ERA out of the bullpen, while Daniel Powell has struck out 37 in 32.1 relief innings.

UP NEXT
FIU hits the road back to Fort Myers, Fla. to take on the FGCU Eagles on Tuesday, April 22. First pitch from Swanson Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

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.