SARASOTA, Fla. | Florida Memorial split its doubleheader against New College of Florida. The Lions dominated game one, winning 15-6, but fell in game two 3-6 versus the Banyans, resulting in the series split.
Gm. 1:
FMU 15 - NCF 6
FMU kicked off game one with a run scored by senior Luis Ruiz in the top of the first. Shortstop Ulises Rodriguez scored the Lions' second run of the game, before two runs in the third, the first off junior Ernie Farrell and the second off freshman Eduardo Perez, extended FMU's lead to 4-0 after the top of the third. The Banyans managed to score their first run in the bottom of the third, cutting the lead to three runs, but two runs by Nathan Harris and Ivan Zambrano extended Florida Memorial's lead to 6-1.
Pheron Charlton scored the Lions' lone run in the top of the sixth, while NCF scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 7-3. The Lions exploded in the top of the seventh with five runs scored by Perez, Harris, Zambrano, Rodriguez, and Raymond Rivera, giving them a nine-run cushion with two innings to go. Farrell and Harris scored in the top of the eighth to balloon FMU's lead to 14-3. The Banyans added three runs in the bottom of the eighth before Ruiz scored the final run of the game, sealing a dominating win 15-6 for FMU.
FMU pitcher Max Charnin (1-0) earned his first win of the season, allowing two hits, two runs, and five walks while striking out two Banyans in 3.2 innings. Senior Kyle Morrison came in relief and in 3.1 innings, allowed three hits, two runs, and three walks while striking out one Banyan. Junior Jacob Williams followed suit, allowing two hits, two runs, and one walk in 0.1 innings, while Boynton Beach native Jamal Johnson finished on the mound for the Lions, allowing one run, and two walks, while striking out two Banyans in 1.2 innings.
Gm. 2
FMU 3 - NCF 6
The contest started with two runs scored by NCF in the bottom of the second, before scoring a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth, dropping FMU to 5-0 in game two. The Lions scored their first run of the game in the top of the sixth when Charlton stole home to put FMU on the board. The Banyans scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth, giving them a five-run advantage. The Lions scored two runs in the top of the seventh, one off Perez and one off Zambrano, but there wasn't enough time to close the deficit, handing FMU the 3-6 defeat.
Carlos Solano (0-2) was credited with his second loss of the season. In the first four innings for the Lions, he allowed seven hits, five runs, and two walks while striking out four Banyans. Freshman Jonah Guinto finished on the mound for the Lions and in two innings, allowed four hits, one run, and one walk while striking out four Banyans.
The split moves FMU to 2-3 on the season after five games.
The Lions return to action Tuesday, February 20, where they'll take on Keiser in non-conference action. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla.
