Miami Gardens, Florida — The Florida National University (0-2) baseball lost to NAIA #2 St. Thomas University (3-1) 14-4 on Tuesday afternoon at Silvester Field in the Bobcats 2020 home opener from Paul Demie Mainieri Field.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP:
Matchup: #2 St. Thomas University vs. Florida National
Final Score: #2 St. Thomas University 14, Florida National 4.
Records: #2 St. Thomas University (3-1), Florida National (0-2)
Pitchers of Record: W: Gonzalez, Luis (1-0), L: Ar. Sierra (0-1)
Location: Paul Demie Mainieri Field, Miami Gardens, Fla.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Joel Rivero made his first career start for St. Thomas, lasting four innings and striking out six Conquistadors.
- Rivero began the game by setting FNU down in order, with two strikeouts.
- The Bobcats offense opened the game with back-to-back extra-base hits; Lopez began the game with a double off the left-field fence and Thompson blasted his first home run of the regular season.
- At the top of the second inning, Florida National tied the game with a two-run home run of their own.
- St. Thomas quickly reclaimed the lead and did not look back. Guerra tripled to bring in Orlando Borroto.
- Lopez followed Guerra with his second double of the game, extending the lead to 4-2.
- Lopez later scored on a wild pitch, capping off a three-run inning, in the bottom of the second.
- Martinez opened the bottom of the third inning with his second home run of the season (team lead).
- Fernandez and Guerra both added home runs in the third inning, as the Bobcats extended the lead to 8-2.
- Rivero continued into the fourth inning, striking out his final two batters of the game to end his evening.
- STU added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, reaching double-digit runs.
- Onelio Perdomo brought in Brett Mantrana on an error by the Conquistador left-fielder.
- Erik Estevez scored two-runs for STU, as he singled through the right side with the bases loaded; extending the Bobcat lead to 11-2.
- Borroto added another run for St. Thomas, scoring on a wild pitch.
- Luis Gonzalez made his collegiate debut, entering in the fifth inning and earning his first career win.
- Perdomo launched a ball over the batting cages in left field, for the first home run of his career, giving STU a 13-2 advantage.
- With St. Thomas leading 13-2, Daniel Bonsanti entered the game for St. Thomas.
- The Conquistadors scored two runs, following an error, extending the game to the bottom of the seventh trailing STU 13-4.
- Estevez polished off the win, bringing in Izquierdo with a walk-off sacrifice fly, as No. 2 STU won 14-4.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Florida National University Baseball team will now face Webber International in a three-game series over the weekend, starting Friday, February 7. The series begins with one Contest on Friday and will finish with a doubleheader on Saturday. The series will take place at Babson Park, FL.
STAY CONNECTED: Follow FNU athletics on social Media:
Ruy Castelo Branco – FNU – Sports Information Director
About FNU: Florida National University opened its first class on January 4th, 1988, in the city of Hialeah, Florida, as Florida International Institute under the administration of Dr. José Regueiro, Dr. María C. Regueiro, and Mr. Omar Sánchez. FNU Athletic Department has more than 250 student-athletes in 11 different sports. Established in 2013, FNU Athletics is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
The mission of the Florida National University Athletic Department is to provide assistance within an athletic structure that promotes the development of a well-rounded education through structured sport and competition, to develop life skills of discipline, integrity, leadership, philanthropy and social responsibility, to elevate ethnic and cultural diversity within the athletic programs, to assure equitable opportunity for all staff and student-athletes, and to make the athletic program a durable source of pride for the student population, student-athletes, alumni, university, and community of FNU.
