Box Score MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial dominates St. Thomas in the Battle of Miami Gardens, pulling away in the final innings to take a convincing 10-4 victory over the Bobcats.
The Lions opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, off a
Luis Ruiz RBI that scored
Ulises Rodriguez. The Bobcats added two runs to their count to take a 2-1 lead after two innings of action. Scoring picked up in the top of the fifth when junior
Pheron Charlton tied the game before senior
Raymond Rivera retook the lead for FMU with their third run of the game. The Bobcats answered back in the bottom of the fifth with their game-equalizing third run of the contest to level the scoring going into the final four innings.
In the top of the sixth Charlton hit a single RBI that brought Melbourne native
Kyle Morrison around the diamond to retake the lead at 4-3. Catcher
Alejandro Fernandez followed suit with a single 2 RBI that brought in Charlton and senior
Luis Ruiz to extend FMU's lead over St. Thomas. Infielder
Ernie Farrell matched his teammate with his own two-RBI single that scored Charlton and Morrison in the top of the seventh, further adding on to the Lions' lead.
The Bobcats added a run in the bottom of the 7th to close the gap to 8-4 before Florida Memorial matched it with a Rodriguez run in the top of the eighth before finishing the game with a run by Fernandez in the top of the ninth to seal a dominating win over their Miami Gardens rival.
Junior
Juan Anderson started on the mound for the Lions and in two innings, allowed one hit, two runs, and five walks while striking out four Bobcats. Mexico City native
Andres Mendes came in relief and in two innings, allowed one run and four walks while striking out one Bobcat.
Junior
Jamal Johnson (2-1) earned his second win of the season, allowing two hits, one run, and one walk while striking out one Bobcat in two innings. Freshman
Jonah Guinto followed suit and in two innings, allowed two walks and struck out one Bobcat while Charleston native
Stephen West rounded out the pitching lineup for FMU, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out three Bobcats.
St. Thomas committed seven errors in the loss.
The win moves FMU to 3-4 on the year, ending a two-game losing streak.
The Lions return to action Thursday, February 29, where they'll host Florida National for the home opener and the first four-game series of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
