(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
ASHEVILLE, NC. (Feb. 17, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (5-4) stands at 1-1 in Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) play after a split afternoon versus the Fisher College Falcons (1-5). Fisher and FNU both made the trip to Asheville, NC., for a four-game series to kickoff conference play early in the 2024 campaign. FNU posted a 2-1 win in game one through eight innings before handing the Falcons their first win in game two.
Florida National was the first to get on the board in game one, capitalizing off a groundout on Matthew Gonzalez in the second which allowed Yordangel Gonzalez to advance safely to home. FNU posted two hits in the frame before Fisher was able to force the end of the inning on a Jose Carpena strikeout.
Fisher evened the score in the fourth on an RBI single from Jose Aybar. Both teams were held without a score or a hit in the fifth and in the sixth as Erick Rodriguez was able to get on base off a single. Fisher’s fielding kept FNU from extending the period and a stalemate in the seventh forced both teams to head to extra innings. Daniel Reyes turned out to be the difference maker in the eighth with a game-winning RBI single that scored Jordan Lewis.
The Falcons had no answer in the bottom of the frame and FNU ended the contest on top 2-1.
In game two, FNU posted two runs in the first but were eclipsed by a three-run, three-hit inning from the Falcons. Three quick outs in the top of the second paved the way for a two-RBI triple from Emanuel Rosado to extend FC’s lead to 5-2.
A single from Yordangel that pushed Gino Bellantoni home and a Roberto Fernandez run off a fielder’s choice cut FC’s lead to one in the third and FNU looked primed to take control after a scoreless bottom frame for FC. And FNU did just that, posting an impressive six runs in the fourth to place themselves firmly ahead of the Falcons midway through this CAC battle.
Both teams posted a score in the fifth, but FC came alive in the bottom of the sixth for an unprecedented 12 runs and five hits for an 18-13 lead. FNU committed two errors in the frame and could not keep Fisher’s batters at bay. FC recorded three singles, scored on a balk, and had their last three runs come off a homer from Yariel Salinas.
FNU tried to mount a comeback in the seventh but was forced to settle with one run scored by Yordangel. Fisher recorded the final out of the frame on a flyout on Lewis.
Up Next: FNU closes out its time in North Carolina tomorrow with a noon doubleheader versus the Falcons.
