MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The St. Thomas baseball team won both of its pre-season exhibition games played earlier this week at Frank R. Esposito Stadium.  On Monday, the Bobcats defeated Palm Beach State College, 4-3, followed by a 9-2 win over Miami-Dade College on Tuesday.

On Monday, sophomore second baseman Michael De Jesus had two RBIs including a well hit RBI single in the fourth inning to score STU's first run of the game and tie the game 1-1.  Junior Robert Rodriguez scored from third base on a wild pitch to give the Bobcats the go-ahead run in the fifth.  After Palm Beach State tied the score on a bases loaded walk in the seventh, DeJesus would drive in senior Joel Capote to go ahead 3-2 in the bottom of that inning.  An insurance run by way of a bases loaded walk by PBSC pitching in the eighth proved necessary as the Bobcats held on for a 4-3 win.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Danny Sanchez started the PBSC game and settled down after giving up a leadoff homer to the Panthers, allowing just one hit over the next seven batters he faced in two innings.

The Palm Beach State game also featured the debut of freshman left-handed starting pitcher Emilio Ogando. In the fourth, Ogando loaded the bases with no outs, then got out of the jam not allowing a run.  He would finish the night with 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP.

The following night, St. Thomas took on longtime foe Miami-Dade College and had the bats going all night.  Freshman shortstop Nico Hernandez with a frame of 5'7” and 150 lbs, had the biggest hit of all with a two-out grand slam home run on the third inning that put the Bobcats up 6-0.  STU never looked back, extending their lead to 9-0 in the fourth inning.  
Freshman RHP Kevin Quintana got the start for the Bobcats and responded with three shutout innings allowing just one hit over three innings.

Preparations for the Bobcats continue this week for the regular season-opener vs. Florida Memorial on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Frank R. Esposito Stadium.