WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (4-3) captured its 20th-straight loss to the Keiser University Seahawks (11-1) in a 15-5 run-ruled contest in West Palm Beach, Fla. Florida National’s losing streak dates back to 2018 with the Seahawks’ largest margin of victory coming in 2019, when they defeated FNU 23-1. This game, however, saw the Conquistadors get off to an early lead but a disastrous fifth inning allowed the Seahawks to close out their 11th win of 2024.
In the first, the Conquistadors’ leadoff hitter Jordan Lewis went to work with a single up the middle in his first at-bat. The Toronto, CA., native went on to steal second before sliding into home on an error from Keiser’s shortstop. This blunder also placed Yordangel Gonzalez at first. FNU’s doubled its lead after Eduardo Ponce was hit by a pitch and ended the inning with a Jose Carpena strikeout.
FNU would hold on to their 2-0 lead until the second when Keiser scored on a wild pitch and a walk before FNU was able to get out of the frame. Florida National allowed eight members of their pitching staff to participate in this contest, trying to throw Keiser’s hitters off balance. The Seahawks took command of the contest in the fourth with an RBI ground out to second and a costly RBI walk on KU’s Jhanante Woods that scored Pablo Ruiz.
In the fifth, Roberto Fernandez brought FNU’s dugout to its feet on a long-awaited two-RBI homer to left center that brought Gino Bellantoni home. In their next at-bat, Conquistador Jeremy De La Cruz tripled on a bomb to center field, but FNU could not extend the inning much further after that play.
What followed for KU was an unprecedented eight runs and four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Cam Verrier’s homer to right field kicked off this massive scoring run as Keiser scored on a walk, two singles and a double. KU’s final score of the frame came on a groundout to second before FNU was able to retire the side on a fly-out to center.
Keiser continued to pour it on after three quick outs at the top of the sixth. The Seahawks posted two runs on an RBI double and single, leaving one stranded. FNU put out Logan Hullete to end the inning and looked to work its way back into the game.
FNU’s Erick Rodriguez scored the final run for FNU in the top of the seventh on a double to left that scored Lewis. After ending the frame, Keiser called the game on an RBI hit by a pitch that ran in Verrier for its fifteenth score of the afternoon.
Up Next: FNU ends the week with a four-game series in Asheville, NC., versus conference foe Fisher College starting Feb. 17.
