MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | After trailing most of the game, Florida Memorial scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, then defeated Warner 7-6 at the Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
With the bases loaded,
Luis Ruiz walked to score
Ulises Rodriguez in the bottom of the first. Another walk from
Kyle Morrison scored
Allan Berrios to give the Lions a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Warner scored a two-run home run with a runner on second to tie the game in the top of the second. Later in the contest, Warner scored two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead.
A home run in the seventh extended the lead for the Royals to 5-2. Facing their first deficit of the day, FMU responded with a two-run shot from from
Gabriel Marinez in the bottom of the inning, closing the gap to 5-4. However, Warner scored a run in the eighth to extend the lead to two runs again. With one inning remaining, and the final tournament spot on the line, Florida Memorial answered the call when slugger
Luis Ruiz generated a home run to cut the deficit to just one run. Shortly after, a sacrifice-fly-RBI by
Reinaldo Prieto scored
Ivan Zambrano to tie the game 6-6, taking the matchup to extra innings.
After shutting out Warner in the top of the tenth,
Luis Ruiz produced a walk-off RBI, scoring
Nathan Harris for the game-winning run.
William Hiciano started on the mound for the Lions and allowed five hits, four runs, three walks and struck out three Royals batters.
Samuel Briceno came in relief and allowed four hits, two runs, while striking out two Royals batters.
Jamal Johnson came in relief and finished the game for the Lions, allowing one walk while striking out two Royals batters. The win ends a seven-game losing streak for FMU, and their first victory at the Harry T. Moore Baseball since April 7th against Ave Maria.
The clutch win keeps Florida Memorial alive in the race for the final Sun Conference Tournament spot.
The rubber match and Senior Day are set for Friday, April 28. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
