Florida Memorial University continues to send messages to the rest of the Sun Conference with its strong play this season, putting together a strong defensive performance – sparked by starting pitcher Max Charnin – in its 5-0 win over visiting Webber International University in the opening game of the weekend series Friday afternoon at Harry T. Moore Field.
The Lions (7-2, 3-1 The Sun Conference) will look earn a series win Saturday (Feb. 25) when the teams return the Harry T. Moore diamond for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
How It Happened
- FMU got on the board in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on the two batters that Webber’s starting pitcher Xavier Rodriguez hit in back-to-back at bats, with timely hits by Ulises Rodriguez and Yunior Sanchez.
- Charnin kept the Warriors scoreless through the seventh inning, keeping WIU’s batters off balance with an array of breaking pitches.
- The Lions tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh on another Sanchez grounder that brought home Joseph Figueroa.
- After Charnin exited the game in the top of the eighth inning, freshman reliever Roberto Mayorca came in and kept the Webber bats quiet.
- Mayorca worked his way through a bit of a jam in the top of the eighth, as he got the final two outs of the inning while the Warriors had runners on second and third.
- Florida Memorial plated a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a WIU error that allowed Axel Gomez to trot home from third and Luis Ruiz to hustle in all the way from first base.
Inside The Box Score
- Ruiz had a productive day for the Lions, going 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored.
- Charnin earned the win, pitching 7 full innings with 6 strikeouts and 3 hits allowed.
- Webber International had three errors Friday.
- Mayorca threw 2 innings in relief with 3 strikeouts and no hits allowed.
- Figueroa, Gomez, and Rohandry Javier all had 2 stolen bases for FMU Friday.
- Sanchez had 2 RBI and a walk drawn while finishing 0-for-3.
- Florida Memorial catcher Rafael Ferrara caught three baserunners stealing.
Analysis & Notes
- Charnin’s 6 strikeouts Friday matched his single-game season-high.
- Also, Charnin’s 7 innings pitched was his longest outing this season.
- The Lions played its second-straight game without outfielder Jalen Young, who is out with a lower extremity injury.
- Friday marked the second time this season that Webber International was shutout.
- WIU’s 3 hits was its second-lowest hit total in a game this year.
- Florida Memorial improves to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Sun Conference.
- The Warriors fall to 14-2 overall and 0-1 in the Sun Conference.