AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (7-12) at Caldwell University Cougars (0-6)
When: Thursday, March 12, 2020
Where: Lantana, Fla. | Lantana Sports Complex
First Pitch: 4 p.m.
Last Meeting: March 9, 2017, Loss 5-6
Live Stream Video & Stats: NONE
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's baseball team will start a stretch where it will play four games in three days, beginning Thursday when it travels to Lantana, Florida for a neutral site, single game against NCAA Division-II opponent Caldwell University.
The game, which will be played at the Lantana Sports Complex, is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
The Lions (7-12) started off their busy week of games by picking up a 16-6 win over NAIA independent Florida National University this past Tuesday at Harry T. Moore Field. FMU's bats were alive and well against FNU and ended up sending the Conquistadors home early when it activated the 10-run rule in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Matching up against Caldwell University (N.J.), the Lions will be taking on a winless team that is hungry for a victory but is also in the midst of its rigorous "spring break trip" – where it came to Florida on March 7th and will have played eight games in six days by the end of it, with Thursday's tilt against the Lions being the seventh game.
The Cougars (0-6) do own the all-time series between the two programs. In their last meeting – nearly two years ago to the day – Caldwell handed FMU head coach
Florentino Burgos and his squad a 6-5 loss in 10 innings.
Florida Memorial's success this season has hinged on its ability to produce runs – early and often. Lions junior
Manuel Mollinedo is coming off a one of his most productive days of the season, where he went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two stolen bases against Florida National.
FMU freshman
Malik Shinozaki, who's earned the moniker "Super Freak" from the Lions public address announcer, has also shown himself to be both a defensive stalwart in the outfield as well as a live bat in the lineup for Burgos.
Victory for the Lions will lie in the hands of its pitching staff, which has been better recently, but must continue to show the ability to either preserve leads or keep opposing teams off the board in the event FMU's bats are under control.
