MIAMI – The FIU baseball program hits the road for the first midweek contest of the 2026 season, traveling to Daytona Beach to face reigning SWAC Champion Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday, Feb. 17 vs Bethune-Cookman (2-1)

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. ET at Jackie Robinson Ballpark
•  Jordan Vargas (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Michael Benedict (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

FIU (2-1) enters its first road game of the year after taking two of three from Villanova to open the season. Following a 7-4 loss on Opening Day, the Panthers responded with a 13-3 victory on Feb. 14 before securing the series with a 4-3 walk-off win on Feb. 15. Boston Doeschot delivered the decisive sacrifice fly in Sunday's finale.
 
Across the three-game set, FIU scored 21 runs on 25 hits, collecting five doubles, two triples and three home runs. The offense broke out in Saturday's 13-3 win, highlighted by a six-run second inning and a seven-run fourth.
 
On the mound, FIU allowed just 11 runs over 27 innings. Eight Panthers recorded scoreless outings during the opening weekend, including Julian Mlodzinski, Tyrus Riley, Bryce Turner and Jarek Woodward, who each tossed three scoreless frames in their respective appearances.
 
Luca Reyes paced the offense with four hits, including a double, triple and home run, driving in four runs. He recorded an extra-base hit and RBI in each game, highlighted by a two-hit, two-RBI performance with a homer on Feb. 14. He added a double and RBI in Sunday's win.
 
Stonehill transfer Aidan Cohall made an immediate impact, totaling four hits and three RBI on the weekend. He posted a three-hit performance Sunday, including an RBI single, after recording an RBI double in Saturday's win.
 
Sophomore Cole Cleveland delivered a two-hit performance Sunday with a double and triple, later scoring the game-winning run on the walk-off sacrifice fly. Andrew Ildefonso collected a hit in all three contests.
 
Vicente Feliciano and Mario Trivella each homered during the series. Feliciano connected on a game-tying homer Sunday, while Trivella launched a three-run blast in Saturday's victory. Doeschot drove in three runs over the weekend, including the series-clinching sacrifice fly, and added a two-hit performance Saturday.
 
Behind the plate, Marc Hersh and Aris Rivera combined for three hits.
 
Julian Mlodzinski and Bryce Turner earned wins in relief on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Mlodzinski tossed three no-hit innings with four strikeouts, setting a new career high in innings pitched. Turner followed with three shutout innings Sunday, allowing no hits while striking out two.

Woodward was sharp in his Sunday start, permitting just one hit over three scoreless innings. Jordan Vargas contributed 1.2 scoreless innings on Opening Day. Clayton Sherwood struck out the side in relief Saturday, and Mason Koczwara recorded two strikeouts to close the game.

HISTORY WITH BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Tuesday marks the 82nd all-time meeting between FIU and Bethune-Cookman in a series that dates back to 1978.
 
The Panthers hold a 65-16 advantage in the series and have won 13 of the last 14 matchups. FIU swept last season's two meetings, earning a 10-0 run-rule victory at home on Feb. 19 and a 9-1 road win on March 25.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Bethune-Cookman enters Tuesday's contest at 2-1 after winning its season-opening series against Bradley. The Wildcats are the reigning SWAC champions and advanced to the NCAA Tallahassee Regional last season, marking their first regional appearance since 2017.
 
Head coach Jonathan Hernandez enters his seventh season at the helm and returns several key contributors. Darryl Lee has opened the year with five hits, while Jose Fernandez leads the team with five RBI, adding a home run and two doubles. Jeter Polledo has recorded a homer and four RBI.
 
On the mound, preseason SWAC Pitcher of the Year Edwin Sanchez struck out 10 batters over five innings in a win over Bradley on Feb. 14. In relief, Andris Barroso has allowed one run over 3.2 innings with five strikeouts, while Isais Duccase struck out the side in his lone inning of work.

UP NEXT
FIU hosts the Holy Cross Crusaders for a four-game weekend series from Feb. 20 - Feb. 22 at FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch on Friday, Feb. 20 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
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