MIAMI – The FIU baseball program returns home for its final series at FIU Baseball Stadium this weekend, welcoming the Liberty Flames in a pivotal Conference USA (CUSA) matchup.

Friday, May 9 vs Liberty (27-22 (7-14 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Jake Potts (1-1, 6.18 ERA) vs Easton Marks (3-3, 3.51 ERA)

Saturday, May 10 vs Liberty (27-22 (7-14 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 5 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Ben Blair (5-3,3.53 ERA) vs Jarek Woodward (2-0, 4.55 ERA)

Sunday, May 11 vs Liberty (27-22 (7-14 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 12 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Dylan Mathiesen (2-3, 4.81 ERA) vs TBA
• Senior Day Ceremonies start at 11:40 a.m.

FIU (26-23, 9-11 CUSA) looks to bounce back from a five-game skid as it builds momentum heading into the final two conference series before the CUSA championships. The Panthers dropped their final midweek game of the season on Wednesday, May 7, falling 10-6 at Miami. FIU currently sits seventh in the conference standings, holding a two-game lead over eighth-place Liberty.
 
The Panthers have found success at home, securing 22 wins at FIU Baseball Stadium—marking the program's highest home win total since 2014.
 
Offensively, FIU ranks among the league's best. The Panthers are fourth in CUSA with a .279 team batting average and 308 RBI, while ranking third in total bases (741). Their 63 home runs rank second in the conference and 55th nationally. They also set a new program record with 109 hit-by-pitches, placing them 10th nationally.
 
Senior Brylan West continues to anchor the offense, leading the team with 63 hits while ranking second in total bases (200) and third in batting average (.337). He's hitting .342 (13-for-38) over his last nine games, highlighted by a four-hit performance at Dallas Baptist and a three-hit outing on May 2, followed by a two-hit, one-RBI showing against Miami.
 
Redshirt senior Kishon Frett has been FIU's top power threat, leading the team in home runs (18), RBI (37), triples (2), OPS (1.109), and slugging percentage (.667). He leads CUSA in home runs and ranks seventh nationally. Frett is riding a 32-game on-base streak and holds FIU's single-season hit-by-pitch record (22).
 
Senior Javier Crespo has been a steady presence, pacing the team with a .345 average in 39 games. He delivered a four-hit, two-RBI night with a double at Miami on May 7. Over his last eight games, he's batting .364 (12-for-33) with four runs scored and 28 total runs this season.
 
Redshirt freshman Andrew Ildefonso remains a consistent contributor, hitting .339 and tying for second on the team with 35 RBI. He tallied four hits, three RBI, and a homer in last weekend's series at Dallas Baptist, and followed with a two-hit performance at Miami. Ildefonso has a five-game hitting streak and is batting .342 with 11 RBI and two home runs over his last 10 games. In conference play, he's hitting .324 with 19 RBI.
 
Senior Alex Ulloa is the only Panther to have started all 49 games this season. He leads the team in doubles (11) and shares second place in RBI (35). He notched a three-hit, one-RBI game on May 2—his 19th multi-hit effort of the year.
 
Graduate student Brendan Roney has raised his season average to .313 during a recent hot streak, going 10-for-29 with two home runs and four RBI over his past eight games. He's riding a seven-game hitting streak, which includes a homer on May 4 and two RBI in the Dallas Baptist series.
 
Freshman Cole Cleveland turned heads with his first career four-hit game at Miami on May 7, adding a double and a home run to lift his season RBI total to 30. He's hitting .355 (11-for-31) over his last 10 games with nine RBI and one homer.
 
On the mound, FIU leads CUSA with 462 strikeouts—19th most in the nation. The pitching staff has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 22 games this season.
 
Easton Marks leads the rotation with a 3.51 ERA, 59.0 innings pitched, and 64 strikeouts. He allowed two runs over 3.1 innings in his last outing on May 2 and has surrendered just four earned runs over his last three starts while striking out 16.
 
Kevin Martin has also been solid, giving up only six earned runs over his last 12.2 innings. He struck out four over two innings on May 4 at Dallas Baptist.
 
Jarek Woodward holds a 4.55 ERA in 14 appearances, giving up just one run in 2.1 innings on May 3. Juan Villarreal has been dependable in relief, compiling a 6-3 record and three saves.
 
Freshman Bryce Turner has been excellent out of the bullpen, tossing seven consecutive scoreless innings with five strikeouts. He threw 1.2 hitless innings with two strikeouts at Miami on May 7.
 
HISTORY WITH THE FLAMES
 This weekend marks the 10th all-time meeting between FIU and Liberty, dating back to 1979. It's their second series as Conference USA opponents.

In last season's series in Lynchburg, FIU took the opener before dropping the next two games.
 
SCOUTING LIBERTY
 Liberty (27-22, 7-14 CUSA) sits one spot behind FIU in the standings and is coming off a midweek win over Virginia Tech on May 7. The Flames were swept on the road by Sam Houston last weekend.
 
First-year head coach Bradley LeCroy leads the Flames after two seasons at VCU.
 
Offensively, Liberty is batting .255 as a team. Tanner Marsh leads with a .302 average, 18 RBI, and nine doubles. Camden Troyer has clubbed 10 home runs with 42 RBI, while Jaxon Sorenson leads in both categories with 12 homers and 45 RBI. Landon Sciley has driven in 31 runs across 48 games.
 
On the mound, Friday's starter Jake Pots has made six starts and logged 27.2 innings. Saturday starter Ben Blair owns a 3.53 ERA in 12 starts with 76 strikeouts. Sunday's starter Dylan Mathiesen leads the team with 16 starts and 80 strikeouts; he threw four scoreless innings vs. Sam Houston on May 4.
 
Out of the bullpen, Garrett McLaughlin leads the team with four saves in 16 appearances and holds a 2-0 record. Josh Swink has pitched in 18 games with a 4.98 ERA, while Tyler August has a 4.91 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 22 innings.

UP NEXT
FIU heads to Sam Houston to take on the final CUSA series of the season. First pitch on Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 pm from Hunstville, Texas at Don Sanders Stadium.

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.