(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (March 5, 2023) – For the second outing in a row, Florida National University’s baseball team falls short of a sweep after dropping game two to the Paine College Lions 13-4. FNU secured a promising 10-1 win in game one but could not seem to capture that same magic at the end of the evening.
In game one, lefty Bastyan Hernandez threw a near-perfect game allowing just three hits and one run during his seven innings on pitching duty. He walked just four Lion batters and was an instrumental part of FNU’s dominant win. Roberto Fernandez was a great addition for FNU on the offensive end, recording three runs and five hits during his five at-bats. Gino Bellantoni and Alejandro De Arazoza put up two runs each as FNU cruised to a solid win in game one.
Game two saw FNU lose a bit of their flow on offense from the opener. FNU did connect on nine hits but could not convert these opportunities into runs. Pitcher Mario Benjamin did not walk one batter but struggled to keep the Lions at bay. He gave up 15 hits and 11 runs in four innings of play. Matthew Gonzalez and Fernandez record one run and two hits each as FNU ended the game with just one error to the Lions’ two,
FNU now stands just one game shy of surpassing its win total from last season.
Up Next: FNU’s next opponent is NCAA DII Edward Waters on March 8.