Baseball is back Feb. 18 at MMC

Wittels will pursue NCAA baseball record at home opener

The defending Sun Belt Conference baseball champions begin their 2011 season Feb. 18-20 against Southeastern Louisiana, with high expectations and 15 new faces.

Last season, the Panthers went 36-25 capturing the Sun Belt Tournament crown for the first time since 1999. The team defied all odds winning five-straight games in the double-elimination conference tournament to earn the title.

SBC Player of the Year Garrett Wittels finished the season riding a 56-game hitting streak. Robin Ventura holds the record at 58 games. Wittels will pursue the NCAA record at the home opener. The shortstop could surpass Ventura’s 24-year-old record on Sunday in a game televised on ESPNU.

The Panthers return 16 players, including seven position players and three starting pitchers.

FIU will look upon returning players like Wittels, Sun Belt Tournament MVP Jeremy Patton; all-conference outfielder/first baseman Mike Martinez; speedy centerfielder Pablo Bermudez; as well as Jabari Henry and Rudy Flores to be leaders on the 2011 team.

The games will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN3.

Admission is $7. Students enter free as well as fans who bring a “Go Free” Pepsi can (found in grocery stores throughout South Florida).

For tickets, call 305-FIU-GAME.