MIAMI – The FIU baseball program is set to host the Sam Houston Bearkats for a three-game Conference USA (CUSA) series this weekend at FIU Baseball Stadium.

Friday, March 20 vs Sam Houston (9-11, 0-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 6 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• TBA vs Preston Prince (0-1, 11.25 ERA)

Saturday, March 21 vs Sam Houston (9-11, 0-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 3 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• TBA vs George Adams (0-0, 5.21 ERA)

Sunday, March 22 vs Sam Houston (9-11, 0-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: Noon at FIU Baseball Stadium
• TBA vs TBA 

FIU (7-15, 0-3 CUSA) looks to bounce back following a 10-3 midweek loss to Miami on March 18 and will aim to secure its first conference win after being swept at Western Kentucky to open league play.
 
Offensively, FIU has totaled 187 hits as a team while ranking among the conference leaders in extra-base production. The Panthers sit fourth in CUSA with 43 doubles and fifth with 25 home runs. FIU also leads the conference with 49 hit-by-pitches, a mark that ranks among the top 10 nationally.
 
Andrew Ildefonso leads the Panthers with 28 hits and carries a .301 batting average. He is tied for the team lead with 20 RBI and ranks second with seven doubles. The redshirt sophomore is currently on a seven-game hitting streak, recording 11 hits during that stretch, including a base hit and sacrifice fly against Miami.
 
Aidan Cohall continues to pace the team in extra-base hits with 13 doubles, which leads Conference USA and ranks among the top marks nationally. The redshirt junior recorded three doubles during the series at Western Kentucky and added another against Miami. He has driven in 14 runs this season.
 
Cooper Rasmussen has also been a key contributor, riding a seven-game hitting streak with 10 hits, two home runs and three RBI during that span. The junior launched a solo homer against Miami and is hitting .327 with a 1.042 OPS.
 
Samuel Fischer has started all 22 games this season, primarily at third base, and is batting .292 with a .962 OPS. He also leads the Panthers with nine hit-by-pitches.
 
Mario Trivella provides power in the middle of the lineup, leading the team with six home runs—tied for fourth in CUSA—while adding 18 RBI in 22 games.
 
Luca Reyes is tied for the team lead with 20 RBI through 22 games and is coming off a strong weekend at Western Kentucky that included two multi-hit performances. He also hit his fifth home run of the season on March 13.
 
On the mound, FIU has recorded 183 strikeouts across 192.2 innings pitched, ranking among the top six in Conference USA.
 
Julian Mlodzinski leads the pitching staff with 20.1 innings pitched, including a career-high five innings in his last start at Western Kentucky. Out of the bullpen, Tyrus Riley holds a 1.80 ERA over 15 innings. George Adams leads the Panthers with 22 strikeouts across five starts, while Enrique Sierra turned in a career-best 3.2 innings with four strikeouts last weekend.

HISTORY WITH SAM HOUSTON
This weekend will mark the seventh, eighth and ninth all-time meetings between the two programs, with the series tied at 3-3.
 
FIU swept Sam Houston on the road last season in Huntsville, Texas, outscoring the Bearkats 30-14 across the three-game set. In their last trip to Miami, Sam Houston swept the Panthers in a three-game series in 2024.

SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston enters the weekend with a 9-11 overall record and a 0-3 mark in CUSA play. The Bearkats are coming off a series against Jacksonville State and a midweek victory over Lamar.
 
Offensively, Cade Corcoran leads the team with 22 hits and a .301 batting average, along with nine RBI. Hunter Alvord has added three home runs, 12 RBI and four doubles.
 
On the mound, Ryan Peterson leads the staff with a 1.93 ERA across five starts, totaling 28 innings with 43 strikeouts. Collin Aloisio has made five starts this season, while Cooper Harris owns a 2.35 ERA in eight appearances. Kade Neusenschwander has recorded two saves in 9.2 innings of relief.

UP NEXT
FIU prepare for game two of the series on Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m. vs Sam Houston. It will be streamed live on ESPN+ from FIU Baseball Stadium.

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

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 X and @FIU.Baseball on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUAthletics on X and Instagram.