MIAMI – The FIU baseball program opens the 2026 season this weekend, hosting the Villanova Wildcats for a three-game series at FIU Baseball Stadium.

Friday, Feb. 13 vs Villanova (0-0)

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Jake Francis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jeremy Urena (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Opening Day

Saturday, Feb. 14 vs Villanova (0-0)

• Time / Site: 3 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Jack Kelley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs George Adams (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Sunday, Feb. 15 vs Villanova (0-0)

• Time / Site: 12 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Carsten Finnvold (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jarek Woodward (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

The Panthers enter their fourth season under head coach Rich Witten following a successful 2025 campaign that produced the program's most wins since 2017 and 13 Conference USA victories—its highest total since 2018 along with a second consecutive appearance in the CUSA Championships.
 
FIU's offense surged in 2025, finishing with 80 home runs, the fourth-highest total in program history. The Panthers drove in 359 runs and recorded 25 games with 10 or more hits.
 
FIU welcomes 29 newcomers to the roster while returning 14 letterwinners for the 2026 season.

RETURNING FACES
Of the 14 returners, FIU brings back two everyday starters in the outfield—sophomores Cole Cleveland and Andrew Ildefonso—both of whom earned Preseason All-CUSA honors following standout freshman campaigns.
 
Cleveland appeared in 46 games with 37 starts, batting .291 with 41 hits. The Delray Beach, Florida native drove in 32 runs, hit five home runs and led the team with 13 stolen bases. Ildefonso emerged as a key offensive contributor as the designated hitter, appearing in 50 games with 42 starts while batting .304 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBI.
 
Outfielder Hector Candelas enters his third season with the Panthers after appearing in 43 games with 26 starts in 2025. He has played in 92 career games in the Blue & Gold, tallying 27 RBI. Samuel Fischer returns for his junior season and is expected to take on an expanded role at third base after appearing in 20 games before an injury cut his 2025 season short.
 
Behind the plate, Marc Hersh returns for his sophomore season after seeing action in 18 games with eight starts, while Adonys Velez also returns after making 14 starts late in the 2025 campaign.
 
On the mound, FIU builds off its lowest team ERA since 2019. Redshirt sophomore Tracen Cameron returns after leading the team with 23 appearances in 2025. Sophomore Bryce Turner enjoyed a breakout season out of the bullpen, posting a 3.47 ERA in 18 appearances.
 
Additional returning pitching depth includes Ryan Reyerson, Julian Mlodzinski and Jarek Woodward, who combined for three wins across 18 appearances. Rene Lastres transitions to the mound after serving as a catcher a season ago.

NEW FACES TO THE 305
FIU adds a significant influx of talent with 29 newcomers set to make their Panther debuts in 2026.
 
Offensively, the class is highlighted by Stonehill transfer Aidan Cohall, an All-NEC First Team selection in 2025 after batting .365 while ranking top three in the conference in RBI (60), doubles (19) and home runs (14). Cohall is expected to contribute at first base and in the outfield.
 
Butler Community College transfer Cooper Rasmussen brings immediate infield impact after appearing in 52 games last season, batting .372 with 53 RBI. Luca Reyes (Rowan College of South Jersey–Gloucester) adds depth in the outfield after driving in 45 runs across 49 games at the JUCO level.
 
Two-way standout Boston Doeschot (Ellsworth CC), an NJCAA First-Team All-American, drove in 80 RBI with 14 home runs, providing additional infield depth. Senior transfer Vicente Feliciano (Seattle) made over 45 starts last season, batting .287 with 14 multi-hit performances. Mario Trivella (State College of Florida) also bolsters the infield.
 
On the pitching staff, FIU adds proven starting depth led by Jeremy Urena (Rhode Island), who made 15 starts with six wins on a conference championship squad. Division II All-American Tyrus Riley (Fort Hays State) ranked fourth nationally in strikeouts with 115, while Matthew DelVecchio (Niagara) logged 82 innings for the Patriot League champions.
 
Additional arms include Preston Prince (Rutgers), George Adams (Stony Brook), Quin McManmon (Georgia State) and Jordan Vargas (Miami Dade College).

HOME SWEET FLORIDA
FIU will open the season with its first 19 games played in the state of Florida, including 13 contests at FIU Baseball Stadium. The stretch includes a midweek road matchup at Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 17), a two-game trip to Gainesville to face No. 13 Florida (Feb. 24–25), and a weekend series against Florida Atlantic (March 6–8).

OPENING DAY HISTORY
The Panthers will open the 2026 season at home for the 11^th straight year, holding a 6-4 record in those contests. FIU defeated Stonehill, 7-6, on Opening Day in 2025.
Overall, FIU owns a 35-18 record on Opening Day.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Villanova makes its 16th appearance facing the Panthers to open the 2026 season. The Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll after posting 22 wins in 2025.
 
Sophomore Brayden Leonard returns after appearing in all 50 games last season, leading the team with 60 hits and driving in 38 runs. Michael Whooley, an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, hit nine home runs while batting .307.
 
Junior Jake Francis made 12 starts across 18 appearances in 2025, logging a career-high 61.1 innings, while Graham Moore appeared in 18 games with 22 strikeouts.

UP NEXT
FIU prepares for it's first midweek contest of the season, facing the reigning SWAC Champions in Bethune-Cookman on the road Tuesday, Feb. 17. First pitch is set for 6 p.m from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

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.