After a sweep of Jacksonville, FIU hits the Sun Belt road for a 3-game series against UALR in Little Rock starting on Friday night where the Panthers will play on a field that is half artificial turf/half grass.
Hogan Field has a fake grass infield and a real grass outfield which could make for a very high-scoring offensive weekend. I stopped by there when I was in Little Rock for the Sun Belt Basketball Tournament earlier this month and the ballpark is like a band box.
The Panthers took 2 of 3 from Troy in their first conference series of the season last weekend and now take on another Trojan team in the UALR Trojans. FIU has enjoyed success vs. UALR in the last 3 years winning 6 of 9 games.
Last season, FIU won 2 of 3 and the series became Panthers cleanup hitter Mike Martinez's (right, thanks Alex J. Hernandez photo) personal showcase as the then-freshman went 8 for 13 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Tim Jobe also had a good series going 4 for 12 with a HR, 3 RBI. Lefty Corey Polizzano has 2 wins vs. UALR and has struck out 24 batters in 21 1/3 innings vs. the Trojans.
UALR is 13-9 and 1-5 in the Sun Belt. The Trojans were swept by South Alabama and lost 2 of 3 games to the Hooters. Of course, FIU can't go into Little Rock thinking it will walk over UALR, because as we all know pitching is thin for the Panthers this season.
Since being swept by Rutgers, FIU has won 6 of its last 7 games and outside of that hiccup against Troy last Sunday, the pitching has been coming around.
LIVE BLOGGING AGAIN
Will be at Saturday's scrimmage and have a story for you in Sunday's paper as well as a blog recapping the Panthers 2nd spring scrimmage.
LIVE GAME BLOGS return next week. Will be LIVE BLOGGING from Wednesday's Blue/Gold Spring Game. The spring game starts at 7 p.m. You can log on here at 6:54 p.m.
Also, will have LIVE GAME BLOGS and game stories of all 3 FIU baseball games next weekend vs. Louisiana from FIU Baseball Stadium.
DAZZLING BABEBALL
Break out a permanent Sharpie marker and write down these dates: April 2, 3 and 16. Those are the first 3 FIU babeball games where the Golden Dazzlers will be performing.
Will have play-by-play of the Dazzlers (right, thanks AJH photo) performance on the LIVE BLOG. In the April 16 game, FIU hosts New Orleans in the Privateers farewell season from the Sun Belt.
Will have an update for you from spring practice in Friday's blog. And You Got Gold, I will get to your question then as well.
Any news on the rumor that Kendall Berry was the person stabbed at FIU?
Posted by: Rab | March 25, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Seems to look that way... rumors flying around campus that it was indeed Kendall Berry
Posted by: Jaime | March 25, 2010 at 11:10 PM
That's what I'm hearing from fellow classmates... RIP. The news hasn't confirmed it yet, but I'm pretty sure that's who it was. May God Bless his family
Posted by: Katrina | March 25, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Whoa, stabbed to death it seems? Tragic, regardless of whatever the circumstance is.
Posted by: FIUer | March 25, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Its been confirmed thqt it was Kendall Berry. RIP. Prayers to his family... what a tragedy...
Posted by: Kim | March 25, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Everyone stayed tuned to the local 7 news for updates..they're doing a pretty good job of following this story
Posted by: Katrina | March 25, 2010 at 11:25 PM
RIP
Posted by: FIUloyal | March 25, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Glad to see the FIU baseball team is winning again. This weekend should be a sweep - NO QUESTIONS ASKED. If we are truly a team that wants to play in a regional, we need to sweep the underperforming teams, especially the ones in our own conference.
Posted by: Yandro | March 26, 2010 at 07:42 AM
What a tragedy. His family must be devastated. My thoughts and prayers are with them...RIP Kendall.
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