Florida Memorial University got on the board early and tacked on a couple security runs late to secure a 6-2 victory over visiting Bryant & Stratton College-Albany Friday in the opening game of their weekend series at Harry T. Moore Field.
The Lions took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning – after Bryant & Stratton cut into FMU’s lead in the top of the inning with a solo home run – and extended their lead when head coach Florentino Burgos elected to go to his bench.
Burgos brought in Jalen Young, Nathan Harris Jr., and Jacquel Perry as pinch hitters; Young got a double up the middle – bringing in Yunior Sanchez, Nathan Harris Jr. moved Young over to third with a groundout, and Perry brought Young across home plate with a single through the right side – giving the Lions a 6-2 lead.
Burgos then went to his bullpen and gave the ball to freshman right-handed pitcher Dawrin Ruiz – in relief of Rafael Fernandez – for the final three outs and the hard-throwing hurler shut the door on the Bobcats by forcing three groundouts.
Florida Memorial (9-8) racked up 10 hits Friday, led by catcher Josue Sanchez’s 2-for-4 performance. Julio Creazzola went 1-for-1 with a double. Carson Sorrell also notched a double; Yunior Sanchez was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored; and Malik Shinozaki was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Fernandez threw eight full innings, surrendering only 4 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 4 Bobcats batters.