BOX SCORE (Game One) l BOX SCORE (Game Two)
AVE MARIA, Fla. (March 30, 2021) – The Florida National baseball team (10-20) took its four-game winning streak into Tuesday’s doubleheader with the Ave Maria Gyrenes (12-23) and came away with a split, winning the first game, 14-12, and dropping the second, 4-3 (8 innings).
In Game One, The Gyrenes used a 10-run bottom of the second inning to jump out to a 10-2 lead.
FNU posted six runs in the top of the third capped off by a grand slam by Jeremy De La Cruz Chan. The junior from Plantation, Florida, took an 0-1 pitch a launched a shot over the left-field fence to cut the Gyrene’s lead to two (10-8).
A solo shot by Ezequiel Valdez Florentino to lead off the top of the fourth made it a one-run game but AMU tacked on two runs in its half of the frame to increased its lead to 12-9.
The Conquistadors used a four-run top of the sixth to take the lead, Manuel Blanco drove in two runs in the inning on a double to right field.
FNU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with home run by Daytan Biegel – the team’s third bomb of the contest.
Both Valdez Florentino and Blanco notched three hits in the game to lead the Conquistadors. Valdez Florentino went 3-for-4 with and RBI and three runs scored while Blanco drove in two and scored two going 3-for-4 from the plate (including a pair of doubles). Carlos Cartaya registered a team-high three RBI in the game with a 2-for-4 performance from the dish.
Sebastian Sanchez picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits in three and two-thirds innings of relief. Daniel Iglesias collected the save, tossing two no-hit, shutout innings.
Game Two proved to be the complete opposite of the day’s first game, as neither team scored more than two runs in any one inning.
FNU drew first blood, scoring a run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Jan Carlos Rodriguez. Two innings, later Rodriguez scored on an error by AMU’s second baseman, to give the Conquistadors a 2-0 advantage.
AMU finally crossed home plate in the bottom of the sixth but FNU responded with a run in the top of the seventh with an RBI-single by Blanco.
The Conquistadors took a three-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, needing just three outs to complete the doubleheader sweep. However, the Gyrenes led off the inning with a solo shot center to make it 3-2. After recording two flyouts, FNU was one out award from the victory but back-to-back hits tied the game and sent it to extra innings.
Following a scoreless inning by the Conquistadors, AMU loaded the bases with only one out and ended the contest, drawing an RBI-walk to end the game, 4-3.
Blanco led FNU with a 3-for-4 outing, driving one. Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Armando Rodriguez suffered the loss, one run on one hit.
The Conquistadors will head to Jacksonville, Florida, to take on Trinity Baptist in a three-game series. Game One is set for Friday, April 2.
