Owls and FIU Renew Rivalry in Non-Conference Matchup

Florida Atlantic (6-5) vs. FIU (8-5)
Series Details	March 8 at 6:30 p.m. \| March 9 at 5 p.m. (in Miami) \| March 10 at Noon
Game Coverage	Friday and Sunday: Live Stats HERE; FAU TV (free) HERE \| Saturday: Watch on ESPN+
Friday \| 6:30 p.m.	FAU -- C.J. Williams (RHP) (2-0, 4.24 ERA) vs. Logan Runde (RHP) (1-1, 3.75 ERA)
Saturday (in Miami) \| 5 p.m.	FAU – Trey Beard (LHP) (1-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. Owen Puk (RHP) (0-1, 24.30 ERA)
Sunday \| 12 p.m.	FAU -- Tyler Murphy (RHP) (1-0, 2.00 ERA) vs. Joel Pineiro (RHP) (2-0, 1.23 ERA)
FAU Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats
FIU Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball and FIU will play a home-and-home series starting Friday night at the FAU Baseball Stadium. After the middle game is played in Miami on Saturday, the weekend concludes back in Boca Raton on Sunday afternoon. The south Florida neighbors are meeting as non-conference opponents for the first time since 2006.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS

Sunday is the perfect day to bring the family to the ballpark. This weekend, Florida Atlantic players will stick around after the series finale to sign autographs in front of the first base dugout. Then all kids 12 and under can run the bases.

OWLS IN REVIEW

After taking two of three from Stonehill last weekend, the Owls were set to take on No. 4 Florida on Tuesday before weather forced a reschedule to April 30.

Last time out, in Sunday's rubber game against the Skyhawks, the FAU bats came alive for 15 runs in the seventh inning in route to a 20-7 victory. The 15-run outburst was the second highest single inning run total in program history (16 runs - April 5, 2005).

WHO'S HOT

Spencer Rich has been a consistent contributor for the Owls in the leadoff spot. The Longmont, Colo. native is 9-for-23 in the last five games and carries a nine-game hitting streak into this weekend. He belted a grand slam in Sunday's win over Stonehill. Rich leads the Owls in hits (18), total bases (28), and steals (6-for-6).

C.J. Williams threw seven shutout innings in last Friday's 6-0 win and will be back at it in the series opener this weekend. Williams set a new career high with nine Ks against the Skyhawks and is tied for the team lead in that category.

The other half of the Owls strikeout leader tandem is Danny Trehey. The Kansan is yet to allow a run in four appearances (9.1 innings). Trehey struck out six in three innings of relief work last Saturday against Stonehill.

THE OPPONENT

FIU is 8-5 overall and riding a three-game winning streak entering play on Friday. The Panthers defeated Bethune on Tuesday. FIU also split a four-game series with Notre Dame two weekends ago, handing the Fighting Irish their only two losses so far.
The Panthers score runs in bunches. They have already reached the century mark in just 13 games (7.69 per game). That includes 21 home runs. Redshirt junior Brylan West is hitting .419 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

On the pitching side, redshirt sophomore Joel Pineiro is fully healthy after an injury-plagued 2023. Pineiro has allowed just two earned runs in 14.2 innings so far (1.23 ERA). He is expected to make the start in the series finale on Sunday.

OPPONENT HISTORY

Florida Atlantic and FIU have met 133 times with the Owls holding an 80-53 edge. FAU has won nine of the last 11 dating back to 2021. This will be the first non-conference matchup since 2006 when the Owls were members in the ASUN and FIU competed in the Sun Belt.

UPCOMING

Midweek matchups resume Tuesday when Miami makes the first of two trips this season to Boca Raton. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

OWLS BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visiting FAU's baseball tickets website.

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Players Mentioned

Trey Beard

Tyler Murphy

Spencer Rich

Danny Trehey

C.J. Williams

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