MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial held off a late charge from No. 12 Keiser to win the final game of the series 8-7 and win its first conference series of the season 3-1.
The Seahawks kicked off the scoring with back-to-back home runs in the top of the first to put FMU down 2-0 early. Designated hitter
Eduardo Perez answered with an RBI single that scored senior
Nathan Harris in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit in half 2-1. Down by one shortstop
Marco Medina lined out a sacrifice RBI that brought home third baseman
Ernie Farrell for the game-tying run.
Tied at 2-2, FMU exploded in the bottom of the third, with five runs to take and extend their lead over Keiser. Center fielder
Pheron Charlton brought home the first run of the bottom of the third before Harris came home for his second run of the afternoon. Senior
Raymond Rivera continued the scoring for Florida Memorial with the third run of the inning, followed by runs from Farrell and senior
Ulises Rodriguez.
Keiser added two runs in the top of the sixth to chip away at the Lions' 7-2 lead, but FMU answered back with Charlton's second run of the game to open the lead to 8-4. Keiser added two more runs in the top of the seventh to make it a two-run game going into the final two innings.
The Seahawks scored one run in the top of the ninth to make it a one-run game, with a chance to tie the game with a runner on third. A fantastic defensive effort from FMU stopped the late-game charge as the Lions would hold off Keiser to take the 8-7 victory at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field.
Miami native
William Hiciano (4-1), was credited with the victory and in 5.2 innings pitched allowed seven hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out two Seahawks. Sophomore
Diego Coss came in relief and in 0.2 innings, allowed one hit and two runs while striking out one Seahawk.
Junior
Kelvin Feliciano was next in line, allowing two hits, one run, and two walks in his two innings pitched while striking out one Seahawk. Junior
Jamal Johnson came in relief to finish the final inning for Florida Memorial.
The win moves FMU to 14-6 on the year and 3-1 in conference play.
The Lions return to action Friday, March 22, where they'll travel to Ave Maria for the first doubleheader of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
