MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (March 20, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (11-15) gave up a 3-2 lead early to fall 13-3 to the St. Thomas University Bobcats (13-15). This is the nineteenth straight loss for FNU against the Bobcats, as STU has won every battle between these two South Florida schools going back to 2018.
FNU got off to a hot start, posting a 3-1 lead in the third inning thanks to an RBI single from Jason Altuve in the second and a two-run, three-hit explosion in the third. Matthew Gonzalez picked up an RBI sacrifice fly to run in Daniel Silgado and Erick Rodriguez got a base hit right up the middle of the field, as Gino Bellantoni reached home plate for what would be FNU’s final score of the evening.
The Bobcats weathered some early mistakes to cut FNU’s lead to one score after an RBI single from Christopher Schoeller in the fourth. A three up, three down top fifth inning for FNU was a prelude to an impressive five-score frame for STU. Lucas Lopez was the first Bobcat to get an RBI in the inning, scoring two runners on a double to left field. Lopez later advanced to third on a wild pitch that conceded another Bobcat score before making his way safely in for a run off a double from Yardielo Oniel.
Pitching blunders from the Conquistadors made it possible for Oneil to run in the final score in the frame before FNU ended the frame on a 6-3 ground play. Christopher Estrada essentially iced the game with a three-RBI homer in the sixth as STU ended the ball game after eight innings thanks to a two-run base hit from shortstop Henry Fernandez.
FNU posted seven hits in the loss, while the Bobcats were credited with 10. Each team committed three errors. Bastyan Hernandez got the start from the pitcher’s mound for the Conquistadors, giving up four runs and four hits. FNU had seven players take over pitching duties in the loss.
Up Next: FNU hosts New College of Florida for a noon doubleheader on March 21.
