Paws Up Preview – FIU Baseball vs WKU (CUSA Tournament)

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The 2024 season has come to a close for FIU Baseball. The Panthers finished with a 26-28 overall record and an 11-13 record against Conference USA opponents. Despite both records being under .500, FIU has clinched a spot in the Conference USA Tournament for the first time since 2018.

The Panthers are the sixth seed and will take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first round of this double-elimination tournament.

Notable Names

Ryne Guida

Guida ended the season on a high note, with a 32-game on-base streak and slashing .344/.430/.557/.986 with nine home runs and 55 RBIs. Guida became the first Panther since Edwin Rios to have back-to-back seasons of 50 RBIs or more.

The Panthers designated hitter has also been a mainstay in the lineup. Guida started every single game for FIU this season as the DH.

This season, Guida ranked eighth in batting average, seventh in RBIs, and 12th in on-base percentage amongst the conference. The Panthers’ “hit machine” will be key in the upcoming tournament.

Brylan West

In the running for newcomer of the year is infielder Brylan West. Spending time between first and third base this season, West played in most games but did miss some time due to a hand injury.

In 48 games played, West slashed .335/.463/.604/1.067 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. For the most part, West led off games for FIU.

West has shown that he has the power to spare as well. His home run shown below had an exit velocity of 101.3 mph and went 339 feet into the air.

Where West has struggled this season is at third base, specifically. In due time, the Panthers’ lead-off hitter will adjust well to the position, but playing him at third opens up the lineup to add an extra bat.

Alex Ulloa

Ulloa started every game at shortstop this season for the blue and gold. He proved to be exactly what the Panthers needed at the most important position in the infield.

The Panthers shortstop slashed .328/.411/.512/.924 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. These were all career highs for Ulloa.

Defensively, there’s been a lot of ups and downs. There are times when Ulloa has struggled at shortstop. This season, he led the team and the conference with 28 errors.

What stands out defensively is the great arm that Ulloa possesses. His athleticism also stands out when it comes to making big plays.

There’s reason to think that he can stick at short when going to the next level, but a move to third base would benefit the 21-year-old in some ways with his strong arm. He can also play both if need be.

Ulloa is well on his way to earning All-Conference First Team given the power aspect of his game and the strong offensive campaign he’s had this season, but most notably in conference play.

Jeff Liquori

Liquori got off to a slow start to begin his tenure at FIU. Moving him down in the lineup certainly helped, but when conference season began, the Liquori that was the big ticket get in the transfer portal showed up.

The Panthers’ first baseman and right fielder ended the season slashing .298/.354/.468/.822 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. He was second on the team in RBIs behind Guida. Where Liquori shined the most was in conference play, where he slashed .300/.355/.470/.825.

Hitting fourth and fifth has been a help for the Division Two transfer. It’s been a swap between him and Ulloa in those two spots in the lineup, and it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up on Wednesday against the Hilltoppers.

Austin Dearing

After getting off to a slow start this season, the Panthers outfielder turned it up a notch in conference play. He began hitting all parts of the field, taking advantage of the big Conference USA ballparks, and has been a mainstay in the lower part of the order.

Cameron Knox

In his second season with the Panthers, Knox became the Friday starter for the team. Posting a 4.26 ERA, 6.2 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9 through 50.1 innings pitched, he’s a good option to start Wednesday’s game against Western Kentucky, or even game two of the tournament.

Joel Pineiro

A more strikeout-dominant pitcher is sophomore Joel Pineiro, who posted a 7.62 ERA and had an 8.1 K/9, but a 5.1 BB/9. Along with Knox, Pineiro could also be allowed to start on Wednesday for the Panthers.

Zac Lampton

Lampton had his best season as a Panther in 2024. Putting up a 3.13 ERA, 13.1 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and two saves in 46.0 innings pitched is just dominant for the Panthers redshirt senior. If they need a high-leverage reliever, Lampton will be the man to call.

Ryan Cabarcas

It’s been an interesting season for the graduate student. Posting a 4.74 ERA, manager Rich Witten has used him in a swingman role. He made 18 appearances and started three games.

There’s a possibility that Cabarcas starts a game in the tournament, but if they need a long man towards the latter parts of a contest, Witten almost always has gone to Cabarcas.

Orlando Hernandez

Hernandez has been ravaged by injuries as of late, but if all goes well, he’ll travel with the team to Ruston on Monday and play a big role in what could be closing out game two of the tournament.

Earning the ERA crown this season at 1.27 and just eating innings for the Panthers is what’s made him so effective this season.

David Eckaus

Primarily the team’s midweek starter, Eckaus can see some run in the tournament. He can be a long man in a game two scenario assuming FIU will put out the best of the best to secure a game one win.

Scouting the opponent

In the first round of the 2024 Conference USA Tournament, FIU is taking on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. This season, the Hilltoppers had a 34-20 overall record and a 15-9 conference record.

When these two teams faced off back in late March, FIU took two out of three against the Hilltoppers.

The Hilltoppers’ best offensive player is infielder Blake Cavill. This season, Cavill slashed .306/.438/.511/.949 with seven home runs and 44 RBIs. He was the only player on the Hilltoppers to post an OPS above .900.

Five players had an OPS above .800, but only four were qualified hitters. One of them is on-base machine Camden Ross who slashed .296/.438/.451/.889 with three home runs and 34 RBIs.

This season, the Hilltoppers have the fourth-lowest ERA in the conference. FIU is just one spot under them at fifth, so it should be a fairly evened-out matchup.

The Panthers do have the edge here with the amount of offensive power they have. FIU has seven players hitting over .300 (four qualified hitters) and five players with an OPS over .900.

Game one is slated for this upcoming Wednesday, May 22nd, at 10am EST. If FIU wins, they’ll then take on the winner of the Dallas Baptist/New Mexico State game the following day. If they lose, they’ll take on the loser of that game instead.

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