ODU 17-12/6-6 vs. Florida International University (23-6/7-5)
FIU Baseball Stadium April 4-6, Miami, FL.
Radio: Friday and Sunday on STAR1310 AM with Ted Alexaander
The ODU baseball Monarchs hit the road to Miami, FL. for a three-game C-USA series against the Panthers of Florida International University at FIU Stadium. Listen to Friday and Sunday's games live on STAR1310 AM with Ted Alexander providing the play-by-play. Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m.ET.
THE SERIES: This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools in baseball.
COACHES:
ODU- Chris Finwood (3rd)
FIU- Turtle Thomas (7th)
PITCHERS: The Monarchs will start senior lefthander Andy Roberts (2-0/2.95) on Friday, then go with fellow senior lefthander Ryan Yarbrough (2-4/3.51) on Saturday. Sunday's starter has yet to be announced. ODU's team ERA is 3.60.
FIU will start righthand pitcher Mike Franco (4-1/1.00) on Friday, followed by righthander Cody Crouse (2-1/1.56) on Saturday with righthander Chris Mourelle (5-0/0.73) on Sunday. FIU's team ERA is 1.63.
ODU: The Monarchs enter the contest with a .278 team batting average with 12 homers. Senior designated hitter Ben Slaton leads the Monarchs in runs scored with 23, followe by sophomore secondbaseman PJ Higgins with 22. Senior Josiah Burney leads the team with 25 RBI and five homers and is tied with Higgins with 11 doubles. Burney is second in C-USA in slugging at .600. Jordan Negrini is second in the league in on base percentage at .446. Higgins 44 hits is best in CUSA. Sophomore Conner Myers leads the team with seven stolen bases, while senior relieverBrad Gero has six saves and 18 appearances. FIU enters the series with a.309 batting average with 14 homers. Junior catcher Aramis Garcia leads the team and C-USA with a .393 average along with five homers and 26 RBI. Thirdbaseman Josh Anderson is hitting .339 with 10 doubles and 26 RBI and Edwin Rios is hitting .323 with 27 RBI. Garcia also leads the league with a .636 slugging pct. OTHER NOTES:PJ Higgins has a nine game hitting streak. Earlier this year he had a 13 game streak...Freshman Nick Walker is on an 11 game hitting streak.Higgins has reached base in 27 consecutive games C-USA GAMES THIS WEEKENDODU at FIUFlorida Atlantic at MarshallUAB at Louisiana techMiddle Tenn. at Southern MIss.East Carolina at RiceUTSA at Tulane C-USA STANDINGS(12)Rice 9-3 21-10UAB 6-3 19-10UTSA 6-3 19-10ECU 6-3 17-12Southern Miss 6-3 17-13FIU 7-5 23-6Middle Tenn. 7-5 13-15ODU 6-6 17-12Marshall 5-6 9-17Tulane 5-6 13-14Florida Atlantic 4-8 16-12LA TECH 3-9 9-18Charlotte 1-11 7-18-1