Panthers Back on Track With Win Over FAU

FIU baseball team delivers strong offensive performance ahead of crucial conference series against Louisiana Tech.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of navy blue, orange, and white, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.The Panthers' strong offensive performance against FAU sets the stage for a pivotal conference series against Louisiana Tech.Ruston Today

The FIU Panthers baseball team scored nine runs in a 9-1 win over Florida Atlantic University on Tuesday night. After a rough patch, the team is looking to build momentum heading into a three-game conference series against Louisiana Tech, a key matchup for CUSA seeding. FIU used seven pitchers in the game, a strategic move by Head Coach Rich Witten to evaluate his staff and keep them fresh for the weekend series. Offensively, the Panthers were led by Aidan Cohall's two-run double and Cole Cleveland's two-run hit, as they look to carry the strong performance into the Louisiana Tech series.

Why it matters

This win over FAU is an important confidence boost for the Panthers as they prepare for a crucial conference series against Louisiana Tech. FIU is looking to build consistency on both offense and defense and climb the CUSA standings, making this upcoming series a pivotal one for their postseason hopes.

The details

The Panthers delivered a strong offensive performance, scoring nine runs in the 9-1 win over FAU. Starter Matthew DelVecchio pitched two scoreless innings, while Mason Koczwara earned the win with two no-hit innings in relief. Head Coach Rich Witten used the midweek game to evaluate his pitching staff and keep them fresh for the upcoming weekend series against Louisiana Tech. Offensively, Aidan Cohall sparked the team with a two-run double in the fourth inning, and Cole Cleveland followed with a two-run hit in the fifth. The Panthers then added five more runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

  • The Panthers last met Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., where the Bulldogs took both games in a two-game series.
  • The series against Louisiana Tech opens Thursday at 6 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium, it continues Friday at 6 p.m., and wraps up Saturday at 3 p.m.

The players

Rich Witten

The head coach of the FIU Panthers baseball team.

Aidan Cohall

An FIU Panthers baseball player who hit a two-run double in the fourth inning to spark the team's offense.

Cole Cleveland

An FIU Panthers baseball player who hit a two-run hit down the left-field line in the fifth inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's a strategic move in a midweek game when you have a conference weekend series coming up. We want to use a lot of guys, get them work, and keep them fresh for the weekend so they're available starting Thursday.”

— Rich Witten, Head Coach

“A lot of it is just trusting the work we put in. It's been a rough patch, but it's about trusting each other and showing up every day expecting to win.”

— Cole Cleveland

What’s next

The Panthers will look to carry the momentum from their win over FAU into the upcoming three-game series against Louisiana Tech, a key conference matchup that will have major implications for CUSA seeding.

The takeaway

This win over FAU is an important confidence boost for the Panthers as they prepare for a crucial conference series against Louisiana Tech. FIU is looking to build consistency on both offense and defense and climb the CUSA standings, making this upcoming series a pivotal one for their postseason hopes.