PLANTATION, Fla. (April 4, 2023) – After two tough losses to NCCAA powerhouse Fort Lauderdale, Florida National University’s baseball team picked up a much-needed 18-3 win over the Eagles on the road. FNU came into the contest 1-5 over their last six outings, as the Eagles lost a nail-biting game to Keiser University 8-7 the previous day.
FNU came up big in the second with three runs and two hits in the frame. Alejandro De Arozoza got on the board first after Daniel Reyes was hit by a pitch. Another Eagle pitching blunder in the form of a wild pitch sent first baseman Yordangel Gonzalez for the 2-0 lead. Neifi Perez scored the final run of the inning on a sac fly from Jose Carpena.
De Arozoza scored once again on an error from the Eagles’ second baseman in the third to kick off a second three-run spectacular for the Conquistadors. Neifi Perez and Yordangel Gonzalez completed one unearned run a piece for a commanding 6-0 FNU advantage heading into the bottom of the frame. The Eagles cut the lead to 6-2 after an RBI double and an RBI single.
FNU’s Roberto Fernandez responded with a solo homer to highlight a one-run, one-hit inning for the Conquistadors. Another single RBI from UFTL, signaled a pitching change for the Conquistadors as Sair Sanchez took over for Mario Benjamin. Sanchez did just enough to close out the frame, not giving up any hits before FNU’s defense got three outs.
Gonzalez, Reyes and Carpena racked up one unearned run apiece for an astounding 11-3 lead. The Conquistador continued its tear in the sixth with a homer courtesy of Gonzalez.
An error from the Eagles shortstop bought just enough time for Perez to scramble to home for the score. A Nick Diaz single scored Reyes for the fourteenth FNU run of the afternoon and a passed ball cost the Eagles another run, pushing in Carpena to make it 15-3.
The homers kept on making an appearance for the green and yellow Conquistadors, as Fernandez delivered his second bomb of the evening. Following up on his teammate’s heroics, De Arozoza airmailed a solo homer of his own making the victorious lap around the diamond for a 17-3 FNU lead in the seventh.
Perez scored FNU’s final run of the game, as the Conquistadors collected 12 hits and no errors. UFTL notched five hits and five errors.
Up Next: FNU baseball takes on another road battle, this time versus the No. 1 Southeastern Fire April 5.
