HUGE series coming up vs FAU

[yandro]

FIU is 1.5 GB of 8th place. Middle Tennessee (8th) plays Western Kentucky (6th) and ULL (7th) plays UNO (1st). We pretty much need to sweep FAU and hope that UNO sweeps ULL.

I don't believe MT will get swept so FIU wouldn't make the Sunbelt playoffs, even if they sweep. It will be tough, but let's hope the guys play their hearts out this series!

LET'S GO PANTHERS!

[FIUVoice]

Hopefully with such a big series, the crowds will be up for a good series since it is rivalry week

[MaXx]

We'll be there Thursday and Friday. Not sure about Saturday yet.

[yandro]

I am hoping to go friday night.

[FIUPantherFan]

It's going to be tough to get the sweep but stranger things have happened. At least the pitching is finally improving, Polizano and Allen are doing much better and the bullpen is getting there, unfortunately it took an entire season. TT better be bringing in some pitching talent. Go F I U!

[MiRi]

I might just go Saturday for a little while before I gotta pick up my mom at the airport.

[FIUPantherFan]

From the Miami Herald

FIU faces uphill battle to make postseason
BY PETE PELEGRIN
FIU's postseason hopes come down to a final three-game series against conference rival Florida Atlantic, beginning with Thursday's 7 p.m. series opener at University Park Stadium.
The Golden Panthers (19-34, 11-16) are ninth in the Sun Belt Conference, where the top eight teams qualify for the May 21-24 conference tournament at Lafayette, La.

There are several scenarios in the next three games that could help FIU punch an airplane ticket to Lafayette.

First, the Golden Panthers need a sweep -- or at least need to win two of three games -- against the Owls (27-23-1, 13-11-1).

Then the scoreboard-watching begins.

TOUGH MATH

To catch eighth-place Middle Tennessee (26-25-1, 12-14), which FIU trails by 1 ½ games, the Golden Panthers need a sweep, and the Blue Raiders must lose two games to Western Kentucky. Or, FIU could make the Sun Belt tournament by winning two games against FAU, along with a Western Kentucky sweep of Middle Tennessee.

To catch seventh place Louisiana-Lafayette (25-27, 13-14), the Golden Panthers would need to sweep FAU and have the Ragin' Cajuns lose two games. If FIU wins just two games from FAU, then FIU would need Louisiana-Lafayette to get swept by New Orleans -- the No. 1 team in the conference.

To catch sixth-place South Alabama (30-22, 14-13), the Golden Panthers would have to sweep FAU and hope Troy sweeps South Alabama.

Should two teams finished tied after the final three games of the season, the tiebreaker to decide who moves on to the conference tournament is based on the winner of the season series.

FIU lost the season series to Middle Tennessee but won the season series against Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama.

BETTER POSITION

Meanwhile, the Owls have clinched a postseason berth and are looking for a higher seed in the tournament. FAU currently is No. 4 but could finish as high as No. 2 if Louisiana-Monroe (20-10) and Troy (16-11) falter.

FIU sends left-hander Corey Polizzano (5-6, 6.04 ERA) to the mound Thursday against an Owl lineup that is hitting .323, with a Sun Belt-leading 88 home runs. FAU will start Jeff Beliveau (4-3, 3.71 ERA).

The series continues Friday at 7 p.m. and concludes Saturday at 1 p.m.

All three games will be webcast via Panther Pass on www.FIUSports.com and can be heard on FIU's student station, WRGP 88.1/95.3 Radiate FM.

[MaXx]

We lost game 1, 10-3. Really bad showing tonight, we had runners on base all night and couldn't get the big hit to drive them in. Here are our pics as usual:

public.fotki.com/cubanprncs81/fiu_sports/baseball-1/2008/fiu-vs-fau/

[MaXx]

A lot better game tonight, FIU wins 11-7. Good game tonight and we had a lot of fun with their third baseman and their third base coach. As usual, here are our pics:

public.fotki.com/cubanprncs81/fiu_sports/baseball-1/2008/fiu-vs-fau-game-2/