MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2023) – Florida National University’s baseball team showed great toughness in a 5-1 loss to the NAIA’s No. 8 ranked St. Thomas University Bobcats. The temperate weather was ideal playing conditions for the Bobcats; looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss their last time on the field. St. Thomas (7-4) fell to Palm Beach Atlantic University 13-12 while FNU (1-2) secured a solid 6-4 win over the Talladega College Tornadoes.
The Bobcats got on the board first in the second inning, collecting one run and three hits before FNU secured three outs. STU blew the game open in the following inning, as Robin Fernandez bombed a three-run homer to right field. This would be just the first home run for the Bobcats in the inning, as Brian Garcia airmailed a solo homer that flew just parallel to the right-field line. This capped off a massive four run, two hit inning for the Bobcats.
At the top of the fourth STU held a 5-0 lead, but FNU managed to get three runners on base. Yordangel Gonzalez, Daniel Reyes and Roberto Fernandez looked prime to secure a couple of runs and put FNU back in the game before Gregory Garcia was struck out swinging. FNU retired the fourth with one hit.
Fernandez was finally able to hang a run on the scoreboard for the Conquistadors in the sixth. Alejandro De Arazoza’s single to centerfield allowed Fernandez to make it home on an unearned score. FNU collected two more hits in the eighth but was unable to play their way into a comeback win.
The Bobcats ended the evening with five hits and an error while FNU committed no errors and racked up five hits.
Up Next: Baseball travels to South Carolina for a doubleheader versus Morris College starting at 2 p.m.
