AVE MARIA, Fla. - The Bobcats (33-12, TSC 15-7) earned two pivotal victories on Saturday over the hosting Ave Maria Gyrenes (19-27, TSC 6-16).  After dropping their last two outings in Sun Conference play, the Bobcats showed tremendous resilience and poise throughout the doubleheader.  After taking an early lead in game one, the Bobcats were pressed against a surging Ave Maria comeback, but managed to pull through with two big runs in the ninth for the 7-5 victory.  Game two pitted the Bobcats against an 8-0 deficit, but a big seventh inning would propel St. Thomas to an eventual 17-11 victory.  The two victories were crucial as they maintain the Bobcats third seed in the Sun Conference.  Consequently, it leaves them within reach of the second-seeded Embry-Riddle, who is only ahead by one full game.  For today's standouts, look no further than Paul Chacin and Jerry Downs, who once again provided the Bobcats with a potent one-two combo.

Game one would see the Gyrenes score first when a Rico Soto RBI single scored Tucker Starkey in the bottom first.  The Bobcats would respond in a big way in the next half inning.  With the bases loaded, Cesar Ramirez stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to give St. Thomas the 4-1 lead.  Moments later the game would be postponed, in the middle of the second, to the following day due to inclement weather.  The delay appeared to affect both squads as each came out a bit sluggish after the restart.  The Bobcats appeared to get it in gear faster, as an Andrew Denis home run increased the team lead to 5-1 in the top of the fourth.  Ave Maria, however, would slowly begin to creep back into the game.  They added a run in the bottom fifth before a big inning in the bottom seventh, which saw the Gyrenes add three runs off two hits to tie the match at 5-5.  Ultimately, the game would be settled in the ninth.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Downs hit a clutch 2 RBI double to score two Bobcat runners and break the tie.  The Gyrenes threatened to do the same with runners in scoring position, but Soto grounded out to Ramirez for their third out, thus sealing the Bobcats 7-5 victory.

The game one standouts included Ramirez, who hit a grand slam, and Denis, who hit a solo home run in the fourth.  Downs, who went two for five with two RBI, came up with the game's most crucial play when he hit what would serve as the game-winning double in the top of the ninth.  Michael Centeno continued his impressive play going two for four at the plate.  Steven Fischer and Bryan Bermudez would each contribute a hit.  Brandon Valentin, who was inserted for Marcos Barrios in the top of the eighth, would pick up his first win of the season.  Valentin accrued three strikeouts while on the mound and surrendered no runs off three hits.

The Bobcats would face a much more assertive Ave Maria in game two.  The opportunistic Gyrenes did a much better job of capitalizing with runners in scoring position.  In the bottom second they would add three runs off three hits, and in the bottom third they would add three runs off two hits.  They would recapture their hot hitting in the bottom of the sixth, when they tallied another two runs off three hits.  The Bobcats would finally get on the board in the top of the seventh when Downs hit his seventh home run of the season.  Downs' homer appeared to be the spark plug needed as hits would start to pour in for the Bobcats.  An Elim Perritte two RBI single was followed by a Centeno two RBI double to cut the Ave lead to 8-5.  Eric Santamaria then doubled to right center, scoring Centeno and Bermudez.  Chacin would then tie the match at 8 with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Santamaria.  The Gyrenes would answer in the bottom half inning when a Starkey 2 RBI double reclaimed the Ave Maria lead at 10-8.  In the next Bobcat half inning, Downs would be hit by an Andrew Giddens pitch with the bases loaded.  Adam Duarte would advance home off the HBP.  On the very next play, Chacin hit a grand slam to give the Bobcats their first lead of the day at 13-10.  St. Thomas would pad their lead in the top of the ninth when Centeno hit a two-run home run.  Extra cushioning would be provided when an RBI double by Chacin scored Santamaria, and a Ramirez RBI single scored Downs.  The Gyrenes would add a run in the bottom half inning before falling in defeat by the score of 17-11.

The Bobcats can look to a multitude of players for their efforts in the come-from-behind victory, but Chacin's play stood out amongst the rest.  He went four for five with six RBI and a grand slam home run.  Centeno continued to deliver the big hits, going two for five with four RBI and a two-run home run.  Downs, who can be credited with igniting the Bobcat comeback, went one for three with two walks, two RBI, and a solo home run.  Santamaria also had a solid outing with two hits and two RBI.  Rodriguez was an efficient three for four at the plate, while players such as Duarte, Perritte, Fischer, and Ramirez each had a hit in game two.  Pitcher Kharlin Sued improved to 3-2 on the season after game two.  Sued had seven strikeouts in his five innings pitched.

The Bobcats will attempt to close out the series tomorrow when they again face Ave Maria.  First pitch is slated for 10 A.M. E.T. at Bowie's Ballpark.