LAWRENCEVILLE, Gla. (May 5, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (21-28) had its NAIA and conference title hopes dashed after a 12-1 loss to the Fisher College Falcons (25-27) at the 2024 Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Baseball Championship Tournament. The Conquistadors dropped to the loser’s bracket in Lawrenceville, Ga., following a tough 27-1 loss to the No. 1 seed and No. 2 ranked Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies Saturday.
FC took its first lead of the game in the first inning, scoring two runs on an error from FNU’s Gino Bellantoni and an RBI single from Michael Wright. FNU was held hitless in the bottom of the frame and FC’s starting pitcher Yadiel Cuadrado collected two strikeouts. Things went from bad to worse for the Conquistadors in the second, as Fisher posted three more runs on RBI doubles by Armando Torres and Yariel Salinas along with a sacrifice fly from Jatnier Torres.
FNU was held without a hit in the second inning before Yordangel Gonzalez broke the ice with a leadoff single in the third. FNU could not manifest a run in the frame and FC made it an 8-0 affair in the fourth thanks in part to a two-score single from Wright. Florida National finally got on the board after centerfielder Jordan Lewis had an infield single that triggered an error from the FC shortstop. This misstep bought enough time for Jose Carpena to make it run safely to home plate.
The Conquistadors looked to avoid another run rule loss but allowed three unanswered scores in the sixth to hand Fisher its 25th win. FNU needed the contest with 5 hits and four errors, while Fisher tallied 14 hits and an error.
Up Next: FNU awaits the USCAA Selection Show to see if their 2024 season will continue in DuBois, Pa.
