MIAMI – FIU's baseball program closes out the regular season this weekend, traveling to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for a three-game Conference USA (CUSA) series against the New Mexico State Aggies.

Thursday, May 14 at New Mexico State (19-32, 8-19 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. ET at Presley Askew Field
• Starters: FIU LHP Preston Prince (0-4, 5.91 ERA) vs NM State LHP Connor Wylde (4-1, 5.61 ERA)

Friday, May 15 at New Mexico State (19-32, 8-19 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 8 p.m. ET at Presley Askew Field
• Starters: FIU RHP Julian Mlodzinski (3-7, 6.22 ERA) vs NM State RHP Jack Turner (3-7, 7.22 ERA)

Saturday, May 16 at New Mexico State (19-32, 8-19 CUSA)

• Time / Site: 4 p.m. ET at Presley Askew Field
• Starters: FIU TBA vs NM State RHP JT Price (3-4, 7.38 ERA)

FIU (17-34, 8-19 CUSA) enters the final weekend of the regular season sitting 11th in the conference standings and still alive in the race for the Conference USA Championships. The Panthers will need a series sweep over the Aggies, along with Middle Tennessee dropping its remaining games, to secure the ninth and final tournament spot.
 
The Panthers are coming off a strong weekend after capturing a key conference series victory over Middle Tennessee in their final home series of the year. Following a loss in Friday's opener, FIU bounced back with victories on Saturday (7-5) and Sunday (10-2) to remain in contention for a postseason berth while finishing the home campaign with a 16-16 record at FIU Baseball Stadium.

As a team, FIU has logged 405 hits, while posting 63 homers which ranks fourth in the conference. In addition, FIU has been plunked by 103 pitches, which leads CUSA and is 21st in the nation.
 
Mario Trivella has continued to pace the Panthers offensively, leading the team in home runs (13) and RBI (43) while batting .275 across 49 games. The junior turned in another strong weekend against Middle Tennessee, totaling four hits, two home runs, four RBI, and a double while recording a pair of multi-hit performances. Trivella has collected eight hits over his last six games and ranks sixth in Conference USA in home runs.
 
Andrew Ildefonso has also been swinging a hot bat, leading FIU with 58 hits while ranking second on the team with 13 doubles. The Miami native has added 35 RBI and seven home runs while appearing in all 51 games this season. Over the weekend against Middle Tennessee, Ildefonso posted five hits with two doubles, four RBI, and a home run on Saturday, May 9. He has recorded hits in eight of his last nine games, totaling 13 hits, 10 RBI, four doubles, and two homers during that stretch.
 
Samuel Fischer has been one of FIU's most consistent offensive contributors, appearing in all 51 games while ranking second on the team with 38 RBI. He has added six home runs and nine doubles while leading the Panthers in walks (43) and hit-by-pitches (17). Fischer totaled three hits over the weekend, including a three-run homer and a double, while reaching base seven times and extending his on-base streak to 13 games.
 
Aidan Cohall has been one of the hottest hitters in the lineup, recording five hits with three home runs, seven RBI, and a double during the Middle Tennessee series. He ranks third on the team with 36 RBI while leading the Panthers with 18 doubles, which is tied for fifth in Conference USA. Since April 24, Cohall is batting .318 with six home runs, 18 RBI, and three doubles over his last 11 games.
 
At the top of the lineup, Cooper Rasmussen has provided a spark offensively, leading FIU with a .282 batting average while adding 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 45 games. Rasmussen recorded two hits, including a double and RBI, in Friday's opener against Middle Tennessee and reached base six times over the weekend. He is tied for second on the team in home runs.
 
Behind the plate, Marc Hersh and Caden Sammler have continued to provide production offensively. Hersh enters the weekend riding a seven-game hitting streak, while Sammler recorded two hits in each of his two games against Middle Tennessee, driving in four runs with two home runs. Sammler delivered the go-ahead two-run homer in Saturday's 7-5 win before adding a solo homer and RBI single in Sunday's victory.
 
Cole Cleveland has appeared in 45 games this season with 17 RBI and contributed two hits and an RBI during the Middle Tennessee series, including an RBI triple on Friday, May 8.
 
On the mound, FIU has logged 443.1 innings with 407 strikeouts this season. Preston Prince leads the staff with 50 strikeouts in 42.2 innings across 10 starts, while Julian Mlodzinski paces the team in starts (12) and innings pitched (55.0).
 
Out of the bullpen, George Adams has been dominant recently, allowing just one earned run over his last 7.2 innings while striking out nine batters, including 3.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts on Saturday, May 9. Tyrus Riley earned the victory in Saturday's win after tossing two innings with one earned run and two strikeouts and now owns 42 strikeouts in 39.1 innings across 19 appearances.
 
Jordan Vargas is coming off a career outing after allowing just one run over 4.1 innings with a career-high six strikeouts in Sunday's victory over Middle Tennessee. Jeremy Urena earned his first save of the season after tossing 3.1 innings with one earned run and five strikeouts, while Cooper Foster added 1.1 scoreless innings in the series finale.

HISTORY WITH NM STATE
The weekend series will mark the 23rd, 24th, and 25th all-time meetings between FIU and New Mexico State, with the Panthers holding a 12-10 advantage in the series dating back to 1998.
 
The two programs last met earlier this season in Miami, where FIU captured the series victory by winning two of three games. In their most recent trip to Las Cruces during the 2024 season, the Panthers swept the Aggies while scoring 49 runs across the three-game set. The series was highlighted by Armando Beccerra recording the second cycle in program history.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
New Mexico State enters the final weekend of the regular season with a 19-32 overall record and an 8-19 mark in Conference USA play, having dropped eight consecutive games. The Aggies are coming off back-to-back conference sweeps against Liberty and Missouri State.

Offensively, Jonatan Clough leads the team with a .338 batting average across 40 games, totaling 52 hits, five home runs, and five triples. Steve Solorzano has paced the squad with 69 hits in all 51 games played while driving in 44 RBI, adding 20 doubles and a team-high eight home runs. Aidan Taclas has also been a key contributor offensively, recording 37 RBI and 14 doubles through 49 games.

On the mound, Jack Turner leads the staff in innings pitched with 52.1 across six starts while posting a 7.22 ERA. Colton Sneedon has made 13 starts this season with an 8.47 ERA over 34 innings pitched. Connor Wylde has totaled four victories in 14 appearances while tossing 51.1 innings this season. Jake Carvajal has pitched in a team-lead of 21 games.

UP NEXT
FIU face off with New Mexico State on Friday, May 15 at 8 PM from Presley Askew Field. It is 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 FIU baseball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

SOCIAL MEDIA
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