Florida Memorial University bounced back from a rough outing in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader to take a 4-3 win over host No. 7 St. Thomas University in 11 innings in game two to clinch its first-ever weekend series victory over the Bobcats (2-1) at STU’s Paul D. Mainieri Field.
How It Happened – Game One (STU 17, FMU 5 – 7 innings)
- FMU fell into a 7-0 hole in the first inning and was never able to recover.
- The Bobcats plated runs in each of the first three innings, taking a 12-3 lead into the fourth.
- Florida Memorial manufactured runs in four-straight innings, including a 2-run home run by Luis Ruiz in the top of the second.
- STU tacked on another five runs in the bottom of the sixth and activated the 10-run rule, ending the game after seven innings.
How It Happened – Game Two (FMU 4, STU 3 – 11 innings)
- The Lions trailed 3-0 through the seventh inning.
- FMU got on the board in the top of the eighth, getting a two-out rally going after Rohandry Javier was hit by a pitch.
- Ulises Rodriguez singled up the middle then Axel Gomez brought them both home with a 2-RBI single to deep left to make it a 3-2 game.
- Florida Memorial was able to tie the game in the top of the ninth with another two-out rally – starting with a Luis Velandia single and getting the game-tying run on a Marlon Cuesta RBI double.
- The game went to extra innings after St. Thomas went scoreless in the bottom of the ninth.
- The Lions scored the go-ahead run thanks to a defensive breakdown by STU, a failed pickoff attempt by the Bobcats catcher allowed Joseph Figueroa to cross home plate unscathed.
- Florida Memorial was able to keep the Bobcats off the board in the bottom of the 11th, getting the final two outs via a pick off at second base and a groundout.
Inside The Box Score – Game One
- Ruiz went a team-best 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.
- Javier was 1-for-2 with 2 runs scored.
- Rafael Ferrara and Gomez were the only other FMU players to record hits in game one.
- St. Thomas racked up 17 hits as a team, including four doubles and a home run.
Inside The Box Score – Game Two
- Jalen Young had a game-high 4 hits, going 4-for-5 with a double.
- Rodriguez, Gomez, and Fernando Vila each had two hits.
- Figueroa had 2 runs scored as a pinch runner.
- Gomez had a team-high 2 RBI.
- Joselito Baez earned the win for FMU, pitching 2.0 innings with just one hit allowed in six batters faced.
- Florida Memorial was charged with three errors in game two.
Analysis & Notes
- FMU defeated its neighborhood rival at least two times in a three-game series for the first time in program history.
- Prior to this weekend’s series, the Lions had only defeated St. Thomas three times in 42 games.
- Ruiz’s homer was his second of the season, giving him a share of the now five-way tie for the team-lead.
- Young’s four hits in game two Saturday was a single-game season high for him and it set a new season-best for total hits in a weekend series with seven against STU.
- Javier’s reached-base streak extended to 33 consecutive games.
- The Lions improved to 21-16 overall and 9-9 in the Sun Conference.
- St. Thomas moved to 30-12 overall and 11-7 in the Sun Conference.