LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (April 19, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (20-21) got a massive Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) win to open its time at the CAC Showdown in Lawrenceville, Ga., over the Voorhees University Tigers. The 8-5 thriller at Georgia Gwinnett College moved Florida National to 8-3 in CAC play and improved FNU’s season record versus the Tigers to 3-0.
The Conquistadors fell behind early after Voorhees’ designated hitter, Kawan Ellerbe-James, blasted an RBI double to left field in the first. James later made his way safely to home plate on a double play groundout to end the inning. Florida National used the momentum from this defensive play to take a 3-2 lead in the second.
Adrian Roman kicked-off this run by scoring Roberto Fernandez on a base hit up the gut of the Tiger defense. Jordan Lewis was the next Conquistador to record an RBI hit, after recording a sacrifice fly to score first baseman Yordangel Gonzalez. To end the frame, Daniel Reyes scored the final run of the third on a single to third from Daniel Silgado.
FNU’s Erick Rodriguez posted the lone Conquistador hit through the next two innings as Voorhees was held hitless in the same window. FNU’s lead grew to three on an RBI double from Gino Bellantoni and an RBI single from Matthew Gonzalez. Voorhees answered the call in the bottom of the frame thanks to a two-score double to left field from Jordyn Hill.
What ended up putting the game away for FNU was a clutch three-RBI double down the left side of the field from Silgado in the sixth. The Tigers did manage one more score on an RBI single to shortstop from Isaiah Palmer. FNU ended the game with 12 hits and two errors, while VU had eight hits.
Up Next: The Conquistadors close out their time in Georgia with a CAC doubleheader tomorrow featuring Crowley’s Ridge and No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett starting at 11 a.m.
