Lions sweep FNU in Miami Gardens. (March 1, 2024)
(Box Score) (Box Score 2)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (March 1, 2024) – Florida National University’s baseball team (6-10) suffered a less-than-ideal sweep versus the Florida Memorial University Lions (6-4) on March 1. The Lions hold a 3-0 record over FNU through the last two days, posting a solid 10-4 win the previous afternoon.
Game one was a gritty battle on the diamond at Harry T. Moore Baseball Field. Both sides were held without a run or a hit through the first two innings before FMU recorded a double to left field by Marco Medina. FNU hurt themselves early and walked the next two Lion batters. This set up a perfectly executed Pheron Charlton single on a bunt to the pitcher, running in Medina.
FNU looked to get on the board in the fourth with singles from Matthew Gonzalez and Adrian Roman. Roman ended up pushing Roberto Fernandez into scoring position at third before FMU got out of the jam with two strikeouts on Jason Altuve and Jose Carpena.
The Conquistadors wouldn’t trail for long, taking a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Fernandez recorded a two-RBI single, scoring Gino Bellantoni and Daniel Reyes. FMU went on to make it a one-score game on a sacrifice fly from Alejandro Fernandez. Bellantoni singled to second in the seventh but FMU quickly thwarted any attempt at an FNU score heading into the eighth.
Mental errors from FNU in the bottom of the eighth allowed FMU to post a staggering run in the frame to take a 10-3 lead. FMU scored on a hit-by-pitch and two walks in the early portion of the inning. FMU’s stellar hitter, Fernandez, recorded a two-RBI single to right center before Charlton ran home on an error from FNU’s pitcher. FMU’s final run of game one came on a base hit to left from Ulises Rodriguez that scored Fernandez.
FMU’s closer on the mound, Stephen West, posted three strikeouts on Reyes and Erick Rodriguez en route to the Lions three quick putouts to end the game.
Game two between these two heavy hitters saw FNU take an early one-score lead courtesy of an RBI single from the third baseman Gonzalez. This lead was short-lived, as FMU collected four runs in the bottom of the first. Ernie Farrell delivered an RBI double and later scored a run of his own on an Alejandro Fernandez single. Fernandez scored later on in the inning on a groundout on Medina for FMU’s final score of the frame.
Gonzalez threatened FMU’s lead in the fourth on an RBI double, scoring Jordan Lewis for the second time that contest. FMU did not bat an eye, however, picking up a sacrifice fly from Fernandez to run in Charlton. FNU was held to no hits or scores for the rest of the contest, falling to 0-6 over its last six games.
Up Next: Baseball looks to close out its road series versus FMU with a win on March 2 at 2 p.m.
