(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (March 11, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (8-13) fought back from a four-run deficit in the opener of a doubleheader versus Mid-Atlantic Christian University Mustangs (10-11) in a USCAA showdown in North Miami, Fla. FNU hosted the Mustangs at Claude Pepper Park on March 11, splitting the afternoon despite a brilliant walk-off win in game one. FNU racked up six hits in the victory and eight in a 6-3 loss.
In game one, FNU fell behind thanks to a run scored on a passed ball by MACU’s Jalyn Lee and another score by Bobby Brown before the Conquistadors ended the frame. FNU was held scoreless through four innings, stranding a total of four runners. The Mustangs added two more runs to their lead off an RBI double down the right field line from Adam Schell and a score on a wild pitch from Luis Ayesa.
Lee had FNU’s number in the fifth, bombing a two-RBI homer to center before FNU responded in the bottom of the inning off back-to-back RBI singles from Matthew Gonzalez and Yordangel Gonzalez. Following a quick three up, three down frame for both teams in the sixth, FNU did their job in the top of the seventh and posted three quick putouts heading into the seventh.
FNU recorded five runs in the bottom of the seventh, initiated by a passed ball from relief pitcher Trenton Sawyer. Following a pitching change that put first baseman Lee on the mound, Roberto Fernandez executed an RBI single before pinch hitter Adrian Roman’s sacrifice fly made it a 6-4 affair. FNU pulled off the victory thanks to a single from left fielder Daniel Reyes that ran in Yordangel and pinch runner Cameron Josemond.
FNU took the early lead in game two off an RBI single from Gino Bellantoni and FNU’s lead increased by two in the fourth. A Bellantoni run and a single to center from Fernandez pushed Roman safely home to make it a 3-0 ball game. MACU’s comeback brewed in the fifth, posting five runs, four hits and forcing an error to take a 5-3 lead.
The Mustangs would score one more run in the eighth off of catcher’s interference with the bases loaded and delivered outs on game hero Reyes, Roman and Jordan Lewis in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
Up Next: FNU hosts Mid-Atlantic Christian and Bryant & Stratton College Albany starting at noon on March 12.
