Erick Caldera | Staff writer
FIU (8–20, CUSA 1–8) wrapped up its road trip in Virginia with a tough result as they drop all three games against Liberty University (18-9, CUSA 6-3).
The Panthers return home to host the Florida Atlantic University Owls this Tuesday at 6 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium.
This marks the fourth and final meeting with the Owls this season, with FIU dropping all three previous games.
The Panthers will look to earn a statement win and make a late season push ahead of the Conference USA Championship.
Against Liberty, FIU was held to just four runs in the series, marking a season low for the program. The Panthers were also shut out in Sunday’s matchup, falling 13–0 in a game called after seven innings.
Offensively, the Panthers showed flashes, with Cole Cleveland and Cooper Rasmussen each launching home runs in Game 1 of the series. Those moments weren’t enough, as the offense continued to struggle with consistency, FIU kept the game close but ultimately fell 4–3.
On the mound, the Panthers’ struggles continued. Starters have been unable to go deep into games, often falling short of six or seven innings.
That has placed added pressure on the bullpen, forcing multiple relievers into tough late-game situations — a trend that has led to costly collapses for FIU.
After their matchup with FAU, the Panthers will host Louisiana Tech in another key conference series.
The three game series will play a major role in shaping the remainder of their season and their position in the CUSA standings for the Panthers.
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