MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | After trailing most of game one, FMU stormed back and snatched the series opener from St. Thomas by the score of 7-4 before falling in both games of the doubleheader at the Harry T. Moore Baseball Field in the Battle of Miami Gardens.
Gm. 1
FMU 7 - St. Thomas 4
After trailing for seven innings, the Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to steal the win against St. Thomas in game one of the conference series.
The Bobcats scored the first run of the day in the top of the third inning and later added three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead.
However, Florida Memorial responded with an RBI-single by Luis Ruiz in the bottom of the fourth that scored Jalen Young for the Lions' first run of the day. An RBI-double by Levis Aguila scored Kyle Morrison and Pheron Charlton as FMU began to close the gap in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the score to 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth while trailing by one run, Allan Berrios produced a RBI-single down the left field line, scoring Ulises Rodriguez to tie the game up 4-4. Moments later, Kyle Morrison broke the game wide open and generated a three-RBI single that brought home Berrios and Ruiz to give FMU their first lead of the day.
Shortly after, Reinaldo Prieto scored a run as a result of a balk from the Bobcats, extending the lead to 7-4. Florida Memorial shut out St. Thomas in the top of the ninth to win game one of the series.
Max Charnin (3-2) pitched a complete game for the Lions and allowed eight hits, four runs, two walks and struck out eight Bobcats batters.
Gm. 2
FMU 14 - St. Thomas 5
FMU, coming off the late game comeback against St. Thomas, marched into the doubleheader in search of their first conference series win at home. Unfortunately, the Bobcats had other plans after dominating both games in the doubleheader.
St. Thomas scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, beginning a streak of scoring in five straight innings, including two in the fifth.
FMU didn't get on the board until the bottom of the seventh inning off a two-RBI single by Rodriguez that scored Young and
Elijah Jordan. St. Thomas responded with eight runs in the top of the eighth to increase their lead to 13-2 thanks to multiple home runs, including a three-run shot and a grand slam.
In the bottom of the stanza, a hit-by-pitch on
Gabriel Marinez scored Berrios to bring the gap down to 13-3. Rodriguez kept the ball rolling with an RBI-single scoring
Kyle Morrison for the Lions fourth run of the game. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, FMU scored another run off a walk from the Bobcats pitcher.
St. Thomas scored one more run in the top of the ninth before shutting out FMU in the bottom of the inning, winning game two of the series 14-5 and sending the Lions to the rubber match.
Ricardo Alvarez de Lugo (1-1) got the nod on the mound for the Lions and allowed eleven hits, six runs, two walks and struck out two Bobcats in five innings pitched.
Samuel Briceno came in relief of de Lugo and allowed five hits, six runs, five walks while striking out one Bobcat batter.
Kelvin Feliciano wrapped up the game on the mound and allowed four hits, two runs, one walk and struck out two Bobcats.
Gm. 3
FMU 1 - St. Thomas 12
FMU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third, off a sacrifice fly by Levis Aguila that scored Nathan Harris. FMU held the 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth, when St. Thomas scored eight runs to flip the script for the game. Another run scored by St. Thomas gave them a 9-1 lead heading into the ninth. Three more runs by the Bobcats sealed the deal as FMU were not able to score a run after the third inning. Florida Memorial drops game three 12-1 and falls in the series at home. With the loss, the Lions relinquish third in the Sun Conference standings, falling behind Webber and St. Thomas in the standings.
William Hiciano started on the mound for the Lions and allowed four hits, six runs, three walks and struck out three Bobcats. Jamal Johnson replaced Hiciano and allowed four hits and two runs while striking out three Bobcats batters in 1.2 innings of work. Anthony Molina came in relief of Johnson and allowed four hits, four runs, and walked four Bobcats batters in 1.1 innings of work.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, April 12 as they host Florida National in a single game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
