FIU Baseball Team Prepares for Home Stand Against Merrimack

The FIU baseball team is set to return home this Friday, February 28, for a crucial four-game weekend series against Merrimack at FIU Baseball Stadium. The Panthers, who have had a strong start to the season, are looking to continue their momentum after a close 6-5 loss to South Florida earlier this week.

Weekend Schedule

Here are the details for the upcoming matchups:

Friday, Feb. 28 vs Merrimack

• Time / Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Starting Pitchers: Luke Linnehan (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs Logan Riende (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Saturday, March 1 vs Merrimack (DH)

• Game 1 Time / Site: Following conclusion of game one, 45 minutes later at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Starting Pitchers: James Nichols (0-1, 5.59 ERA) vs TBD

Sunday, March 2 vs Merrimack

• Time / Site: 12:00 p.m. ET at FIU Baseball Stadium
• Starting Pitchers: Harry Painter (0-0, 7.20 ERA) vs Owen Puk (0-0, 3.72 ERA)

Strong Start to the Season

The Panthers have shown impressive results on the field, marking their best start since 2020. Under head coach Rich Witten, the team has demonstrated resilience and skill, securing a 7-2 record. Their achievements include a .308 team batting average, ranking second in the conference, and a prolific 76 runs, placing them 28th in the nation.

The Panthers’ power hitting has also been a significant factor. They lead the nation with 15 home runs and rank 13th nationally, and first in Conference USA. Leadoff hitter Brylan West has been a standout performer, leading the team in hits (16), doubles (4), and batting average (.444). He ranks 18th in total hits and 35th in total bases (28).

Senior slugger Kishon Frett has also found his stride, recording six hits in his last four games, including two multi-hit performances. In that stretch, Frett contributed three RBIs, two doubles, one triple, and a home run, boasting an OPS of 1.156 and leading the nation in hit-by-pitches with ten.

Freshman Cole Cleaveland and junior Alex Ulloa have been consistent, contributing vital hits and RBIs. Ulloa has a .341 batting average (14-for-41) with four doubles and five RBIs, while Cleaveland ranks second on the team with eight RBIs and three doubles.

Dominant Pitching Staff

The FIU pitching staff has been equally impressive, holding a 4.28 team ERA while leading the nation in strikeouts (118). Key players include: Logan Runde leads FIU in innings pitched (10.0) with no earned runs, 10 strikeouts, and no walks.

Reliever Juan Villarreal has been dominant out of the bullpen, striking out 16 batters in 10.1 innings, earning a 2-0 record, and holding a 1.74 ERA.

Historic First Meeting

This weekend marks the first-ever meeting between FIU and Merrimack, and the Panthers are keen to make a strong impression. Merrimack, with a 1-5-1 record, enters the series following a recent tie against Bryant. Their standout players include junior Logan Castellano, who leads the team with two home runs and seven RBIs, and preseason All-MAAC selection Frankie Ferrentino, who has been a consistent performer.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, FIU will host the Miami Hurricanes for a midweek contest at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets for this highly anticipated matchup are available through Marlin’s website.

Baptist Health remains the Official Sports Medicine Provider for FIU Athletics and proudly supports the growth and development of their athletic programs. For the latest updates, follow @FIUBaseball on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. General athletic news can be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.

Catch all the action and key insights as FIU aims to further solidify its position in the Conference USA standings and make a strong debut against Merrimack. With such high standards and extraordinary performance, this rivalry will undoubtedly produce countless moments to inspire that very much the FIU baseball program is representing the power of family and upsets, making them a team worth watching. This will crystallize into a playbook of nearby upsets over contenders in more weeks, months, and years to come, avid traditional-statcaping enthusiasts stay tuned!