MIAMI – FIU's baseball program returns to the road this weekend, traveling to Lynchburg, Virginia for a Conference USA (CUSA) series against the Liberty Flames.

Friday, March 27 vs Liberty (15-9, 3-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 4 p.m. ET at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium
• Starters: Preston Prince (0-2, 7.88 ERA) vs Ben Blair (3-1, 1.53 ERA)

Saturday, March 28 vs Liberty (15-9, 3-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 2 p.m. ET at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium
• Starters: Enrique Sierra (2-2, 4.82 ERA) vs TBA

Sunday, March 29 vs Liberty (15-9, 3-3 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 11 a.m. ET at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium
• Starters: TBA vs Bradley Zayac (3-0, 1.62 ERA)

The Panthers (8-17, 1-5 CUSA) look to secure their first conference road series of the season after dropping two of three to Sam Houston this past weekend at FIU Baseball Stadium. FIU fell in Friday and Sunday's contests but earned a thrilling 12-11 walk-off victory on Saturday, March 21, as Mario Trivella launched a grand slam for the program's first CUSA win of the season.
 
Offensively, FIU has totaled 203 hits as a team while belting 30 home runs, ranking among the top five in the conference. The Panthers have also been hit by 55 pitches this season, which leads CUSA and ranks 15th nationally.
 
Mario Trivella leads the charge, pacing the team in home runs (8) and RBI (25). His home run total is tied for fourth in CUSA, while his RBI ranks among the conference leaders. Trivella is coming off a standout performance on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and a career-high seven RBI, highlighted by his second walk-off homer of the season.
 
Cooper Rasmussen has been on a tear, riding a 10-game hitting streak with 14 hits during that stretch. The junior has appeared in 19 games this season and is coming off a four-hit weekend that included a home run and two RBI.
 
Andrew Ildefonso ranks second on the team with 20 RBI, appearing in all 25 games this season while adding seven doubles and a triple.
 
Aidan Cohall continues to excel in extra-base production, leading the team with 13 doubles—marking the top total in CUSA and ranking among the top in the nation. The redshirt junior has added 14 RBI across 24 games.
 
Samuel Fischer has been a consistent presence in the lineup, starting all 25 games while batting .280 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He also leads the team with 22 walks and 10 hit-by-pitches, both ranking among the top marks in the conference.
 
Luca Reyes provides additional power, tied for second on the team with five home runs and 20 RBI.
 
On the mound, FIU has logged 207 strikeouts over 219.2 innings pitched. Preston Prince is coming off his strongest outing of the season, striking out six over four innings while allowing two earned runs against Sam Houston.
 
Left-hander George Adams has made six starts, leading the team with 26 strikeouts across 23.1 innings. Julian Mlodzinski leads the staff with 27 innings pitched and is coming off a career outing of 6.2 innings with three earned runs and four strikeouts. He has recorded back-to-back appearances of at least five innings this season.
 
Out of the bullpen, Enrique Sierra leads the team with 11 appearances and has recorded 19 strikeouts over 18.2 innings. Bryce Turner has made nine appearances, including a three-inning outing with three strikeouts last weekend. Tyrus Riley has been effective with a 2.50 ERA across 18 innings, highlighted by a three-inning performance on Saturday.
 
HISTORY WITH LIBERTY
This weekend marks the 13th, 14th, and 15th all-time meetings between the two programs, dating back to 1979.
 
FIU holds an 8-4 advantage in the series but is 2-4 against Liberty since both programs joined CUSA. In their last meeting in Miami, the Flames took two of three, while FIU earned one win in their 2024 matchup in Lynchburg.

SCOUTING THE FLAMES
Liberty enters with a 15-9 overall record and a 3-3 mark in CUSA play after taking two of three on the road at Kennesaw State.
 
Offensively, Tanner Marsh leads the team with 33 hits and 18 RBI. Riley DeCanio paces the Flames in home runs (5) and RBI (21), while Jaxon Sorenson has added 25 hits with a .287 average.
 
On the mound, Ben Blair leads the staff with 50 strikeouts in 35.1 innings and is coming off a seven-inning shutout performance against Kennesaw State. Bradley Zayac owns a 1.62 ERA in five starts, while Jaxon Lucas has made six starts this season. Out of the bullpen, Cooper Harrington and Josh Swink have each recorded two saves.

UP NEXT
FIU returns back home on Tuesday, March 31 to face the Florida Atlantic Owls. First pitch from FIU Baseball Stadium is set for 6 p.m. and can be streamed 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 FIU 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.