JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (4-2) ended a successful road trip with a 3-1 record versus the Trinity Baptist College Eagles (5-7). FNU combined for 14 runs and 17 hits in both of its 7-3 victories over the Eagles.
In game one, FNU avoided an early scoring slump with an RBI single from designated hitter Roberto Fernandez that ran in Daniel Silgado. Silgado previously put himself in play by completing a single right up the middle of the field. TBC ended the frame with a groundout to second on Matthew Gonzalez. The Eagles left three runners stranded at the end of the first but were able to get on the board off an RBI double from Gavin Williams.
A scoreless second inning for both squads led to a third frame where both teams left two runners stranded without getting a runner safely to home. In the fourth inning, TBC capitalized on a double from Ryan Onkst that sent Logan McGann to home plate.
In the fifth, Florida National put themselves back in front, thanks to a two-RBI single from Gino Bellantoni. The Conquistadors extended the frame by forcing an error from the Eagles’ shortstop before ultimately retiring the frame on Gonzalez’s lineout to right field.
FNU allowed TBC to score only one more run in the next two innings, while FNU topped off a 7-3 victory with a homer from Yordangel Gonzalez, another RBI single from Bellantoni, and an RBI groundout to TBC’s pitcher. TBC and FNU both recorded seven hits and two errors in the contest.
Game two saw both teams go scoreless in the first with TBC recording two hits while FNU left Bellantoni stranded after an error from the Eagles shortstop. At the top of the second, Jose Carpena completed a two-RBI double to put FNU on top in a two-hit inning for the Conquistadors. Erick Rodriguez shined in the third with a two-run double to center and scored a run on his own on a double from Eduardo Ponce.
Both teams remained without another run scored until TBC broke through as Seth Reeves was sent home on a passed ball in the sixth. But TBC’s score was quickly made irrelevant as FNU answered back on a run scored by Carpena on a Silgado sacrifice fly. TBC stayed in it with a two-run, two-hit sixth inning. Pinch runner Adrian Roman scored the final run for the Conquistadors off a Rodriguez single before FNU got three outs in the bottom of the seventh to usher in its fourth win of the young 2024 season.
Up Next: FNU stays on the road and heads to West Palm Beach, Fla., for an 11 a.m. contest against Keiser.
