MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial pulled away in the later innings to take victory in the conference opener 5-2 over No. 12 Keiser, avenging an early loss the Lions suffered at the hands of the Seahawks back in February when FMU traveled to West Palm Beach in non-conference play.

After two scoreless innings, Keiser scored the first two runs to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Center fielder Pheron Charlton answered in the bottom of the third with an RBI triple that sent shortstop Marco Medina home before an Alejandro Fernandez RBI-single scored Charlton to tie the game at 2-2.

Two more scoreless innings followed suit before the Lions resumed scoring in the bottom of the sixth off an Ivan Zambrano RBI single that scored FMU's leader in batting average Raymond Rivera to give the Lions their first lead of the day. A Charlton RBI single scored junior Ernie Farrell to extend Florida Memorial's lead before another Fernandez RBI brought senior Luis Ruiz around the diamond in the bottom of the eighth to give FMU the victory in game one of the four-game series.

Graduate student Max Charnin (3-0), claimed victory once again and in six innings pitched allowed eight hits, two runs and struck out three Seahawks. Junior Kelvin Feliciano came in relief for one inning. Boynton Beach native Jamal Johnson was next in line and in one inning allowed two hits and struck out one Seahawk. Junior Stephen West finished on the mound for Florida Memorial, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one Seahawk in his lone inning pitched.

The win marks the fifth straight for FMU, who's won 10 of their last 11 games. FMU advances to 12-5 on the year and 1-0 in conference play.

The Lions return to action Saturday, March 15, where they'll host Keiser for the series doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.