MIAMI – The FIU baseball program travels to Bowling Green, Kentucky, this weekend to face the reigning Conference USA champions, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, to open CUSA play.

Friday, March 13 at Western Kentucky (9-8, 0-0 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. ET at Nick Denes Field
• Starters: FIU LHP Preston Prince (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs WKU RHP Gavin Perry (4-4, 4.15 ERA)

Saturday, March 14 at Western Kentucky (9-8, 0-0 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 5 p.m. ET at Nick Denes Field
• Starters: FIU LHP George Adams (0-0, 5.06 ERA) vs WKU LHP Aaron Robertson (1-0, 1.69 ERA)

Sunday, March 15 at Western Kentucky (9-8, 0-0 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 1 p.m. ET at Nick Denes Field
• Starters: FIU TBA vs WKU LHP Zach Serup (0-1, 4.35 ERA)

FIU (7-11) enters the 2026 conference season after posting a 13-13 mark in CUSA play in 2025, finishing sixth overall and earning a spot in the CUSA Championship for the second consecutive season. The 13 conference wins marked the program's highest total since 2018.
 
The Panthers look to bounce back on the road after dropping their last six contests, most recently falling to FGCU, 11-6, in 10 innings on Tuesday, March 10.
 

Offensively, FIU has recorded 153 hits (sixth in Conference USA) and 114 RBI as a team, which ranks fifth in Conference USA. The Panthers have also been hit by pitch 46 times this season, which ranks sixth nationally.
 

Redshirt sophomore Andrew Ildefonso has helped lead the offense, pacing the Panthers with 23 hits, tied for the third-most in CUSA. He is also tied for the team lead with 18 RBI after delivering a game-tying sacrifice fly against FGCU. Ildefonso is coming off a five-hit weekend, including his first career four-hit performance on March 7, and has recorded a hit in 16 of his 18 games this season while ranking second on the team with seven doubles.
 
Samuel Fischer leads FIU with a .322 batting average, totaling 19 hits, three home runs and 10 RBI. He also tops the team in walks (16) and hit-by-pitches (8) while starting all 18 games this season and posting a 1.060 OPS.
 
Aidan Cohall has added production with a team-best nine doubles, tied for the second-most in Conference USA, along with 12 RBI and 17 hits. He recorded two doubles in a two-hit performance at Florida Atlantic on March 8 and added another double against FGCU.
 
Mario Trivella continues to provide power in the lineup, leading the Panthers with six home runs, tied for second in CUSA. He homered on March 7 and posted a two-hit performance on March 8 against the Owls, while adding a two-hit effort against FGCU that included a two-run double.
 
Cole Cleveland produced his first three-hit game of the season on Tuesday against FGCU, recording a pair of doubles and two RBI. It marked his second multi-hit performance of the season after collecting two hits against Villanova on Feb. 15.
 
On the mound, FIU ranks fourth in Conference USA with 154 strikeouts, led by George Adams, who has 20 strikeouts across 16 innings pitched. The left-hander delivered a strong outing against Florida Atlantic on March 7, recording career highs in innings pitched (5) and strikeouts (8).
 
Preston Prince is expected to make his second start of the season this weekend at Western Kentucky after tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his first start on March 6 in Boca Raton.
 
Tyrus Riley has lowered his ERA to 1.50 across 12 innings pitched and has not allowed an earned run over his last six innings of work.
 
Julian Mlodzinski also turned in a solid performance in his Sunday start at Florida Atlantic on March 8, tossing a career-high four innings while allowing just one run.
 
Out of the bullpen, Enrique Sierra has made eight appearances and has not allowed a run over his last five innings. Mason Koczwara ranks second on the team with 15 strikeouts out of the bullpen across 11.1 innings pitched.

HISTORY WITH WESTERN KENTUCKY
The weekend series will mark the 90th, 91st and 92nd all-time meetings between the programs, dating back to 1999. Western Kentucky holds a 48-41 advantage in the series.
 
FIU has won four of the last five matchups, including a series sweep at home last April against the then-ranked Hilltoppers.
 
The Panthers also found success in Bowling Green in 2024, taking two of three games on the road, highlighted by a run-rule victory and a Sunday series-clinching win.

SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
The Hilltoppers enter the weekend with a 9-8 overall record, coming off a series victory over Indiana State.
 
WKU has faced several Power Four opponents this season, including series matchups with BYU and Indiana.
 
The Hilltoppers are coming off a standout 2025 season in which they won 46 games and captured the CUSA Championship, earning a berth in the Oxford Regional.
 
Offensively, Lane Arroyos leads the team with 23 hits, along with a team-high seven doubles and 19 RBI. JP Acosta ranks second on the team with 18 hits.
 
On the mound, Aaron Robertson leads the rotation with a 1.69 ERA across three starts and 16 innings pitched. Gavin Perry has thrown 17.1 innings with 17 strikeouts.
 
Out of the bullpen, Zach Lyles has recorded three saves, while Mick Uebelhor holds a 0.66 ERA with a win. Zach Serup has logged 10.1 innings with a 4.35 ERA.

UP NEXT
FIU takes on Western Kentucky on Saturday, March 14 at 5 p.m. from Nick Denes Field. It wil be streamed live on ESPN+.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE. 

BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 Baseball season is 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 X and @FIU.Baseball on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUAthletics on X and Instagram.