MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The 12^th ranked St. Thomas baseball team defeated No. 6 Embry-Riddle, 5-4 on Saturday night to take a 2-0 lead in the series between the two Sun Conference rivals.

Shortstop Luis Jimenez hit a game winning double in the eighth inning to give the Bobcats the decisive 5-4 lead.  It was the second night in a row that Jimenez made an impact on the final score.  On Friday, he blasted a two-run home run to tie the game in an eventual 4-3 STU win.

Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Victor Madrazo led off with a single, followed by another single by Hector Bello.  With one out and the bases loaded, Hector Acosta hit an RBI single, his second of the night, that scored Robert Rodriguez.  With two outs and runners on second and third, Jimenez hit the game-winning double that brought home Acosta and Alex Carrillo. 

Closer Dane Stone pitched the game's final two innings to earn the win, his second in as many nights.  Starter Danny Sanchez allowed three runs, one earned on two hits in seven innings, striking out three while walking six.  Sanchez gave up one run on two hits in the first inning, yet went on to not allow a hit over the next six innings.  In total, the pitchers allowed just one earned and three hits.

With the win, St. Thomas improves to 33-9 and 16-6 in conference.  Embry-Riddle falls to 33-13 overall and 17-6 in conference play. The three-game series concludes on Sunday at 11 a.m.  The winner of Sunday's game takes sole possession of first place in The Sun Conference.