DUBOIS, Pa. (May 16, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (24-30) saw its incredible run at the USCAA Small College World Series come to an end with a 13-3 loss to Penn State University DuBois (36-10). The Conquistadors lost their second game of the tournament to the No. 1-seeded Nittany Lions, bringing home third place in the tournament after entering DuBois, Pa. as the lowest seeded team at No. 10.
FNU fell behind early after Tyler Yough reached first on an error from Jason Altuve. This mishap scored Colby Bodtorf, putting the Lions in front 1-0. FNU showed signs of life with a stunning homer, this time from third baseman Matthew Gonzalez. The Dominican Republic native blasted a two-RBI home run to left field in the second to put FNU ahead 2-1.
What followed was an offensive explosion from PSU, as the Lions posted a whopping seven runs in the third. PSU connected on seven hits in the frame and managed to steal home twice. Grant Lillard, Bryce Dobson, Tylor Herzing and Bodtorf each recorded RBI base hits before FNU ended the frame on a successful pick off attempt that tagged Bodtorf at second base.
FNU recorded its final run of the season in the fifth after an RBI single by Jeremy De La Cruz scored Adrian Roman. PSU did not slow down in the fifth, however, picking up three more scores thanks in part to an RBI single from Jake Sikora and a run scored by Nick Cagliola on a balk.
PSU ended the game in six innings after taking a 10 run lead on a one-score base hit by Brett Beith and an RBI walk by Bodtorf. Starting pitcher Gavin Gonzalez recorded three strikeouts and allowed six runs. Evan Dalmau closed out the game for the Conquistadors with one strikeout and two hits allowed.
