Eduardo Almaguer/Staff Writer
eduardo.almaguer@fiusm.com
When it was brought up last week that FIU had won six consecutive games, Mike Martinez, the team’s third baseman, waved his hand as he shook his head.
“Let’s not jinx it though,” Martinez said. “Let’s keep that quiet for now.”
Try to keep it quiet as he may, Martinez may not realize just how loud FIU’s offense has been.
FIU (19-13, 7-5 SBC) just about shouted its arrival in April when they scored 50 runs in six games, leading them to a sweep of Florida A&M and Troy, the team they were chosen to tie for first place with in the SBC pre-season poll.
“I’m not going to lie, it feels a lot like it did last year when we ran off that 15-game win streak,” added Martinez. “Our team right now is clicking on all cylinders.”
The recent surge vaulted FIU to the top three in hits (third), average (first), slugging (third) and on-base percentage (second).
HENRY WINS AWARD
Jabari Henry’s teammates and fans were not the only ones to notice his colossal week at the plate.
Henry was named Louisville Slugger’s National Player of the Week on April 9. It’s the second time in his career he garners the honors. He won it last on March 15, 2010.
In his last 10 games, Henry is hitting .462 with six home runs and 23 RBIs.
On April 7, Henry hit two home runs in game two in the Troy series, the second of which was a game winner in the eighth inning after trailing all night.
CAJUN BRAWL
The Panthers travel 1,000 miles west to take on University of Louisiana-Lafayette for game one of a three-game series tonight at 7 p.m. EDT.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (15-17, 5-7 SBC) are a couple of notches below FIU in the standings, sitting at sixth place in the Sun Belt Conference. As opposed to FIU, who’s won 11 of their last 13 games, the Cajuns have lost nine of their last 11 games.
The last time these two teams faced off, FIU took two out of three games from the Cajuns last April and beat them again in the Sun Belt tournament in May.
ULL has failed to impress at the plate this season, being in the bottom third in the conference in average, slugging, on-base percentage, runs, RBIs, hits and home runs.
Only three Cajuns have eclipsed the benchmark batting average mark, .300, and only one, Dylan Butler, has more than one home run and 20 RBIs.
If the last two weekend series are indication, the Panthers will trot out Mason McVay (1-2, 3.51), Michael Ellis (1-2, 3.63) and R.J Fondon (4-4, 4.29).
The Cajuns will send out Jordan Nicholson (3-3, 4.31), Chris Griffitt (4-2, 3.23) and Jordan Harrison (3-1, 2.60).
Harrison won SBC Pitcher of the Week on April 9 after pitching a complete-game one-hitter against Western Kentucky on April 8. It was the first one-hitter for the Cajuns since 2010.
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