AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Bobcats (34-12, TSC 16-7) again bested the Ave Maria Gyrenes (19-28, TSC 6-17) in the finale of their Sun Conference three-game series.  The game was pretty even throughout, but a three-run inning in the sixth would make the difference for the Bobcats, who eventually won 5-2.  Today's standout performer was Alejandro Oviedo.  The former JV player has performed well since being called up, and he managed to hit his first home run of the season in the top sixth.

The first five innings of play would see both teams go scoreless.  Not to say that opportunities did not present themselves, but neither team was able to bring any base runners home.  That changed in the top of the sixth when Paul Chacin hit a single to right field and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the right fielder.  On the very next play, Eric Santamaria hit an RBI double to put the Bobcats up 1-0.  Two batters later, Oviedo hit a home run to left center, increasing the Bobcat lead to 3-0.  The Gyrenes would add a run in the bottom eighth when an errant throw by Santamaria scored Christian Sanchez.  The Bobcats would counter by adding some insurance runs in the top of the ninth. The first would come off a Jerry Downs RBI single, which scored Bryan Bermudez.  Chacin would follow with an RBI single that scored Downs.  After pitching the duration of the game, Alex Hernandez would be replaced by Tyeler Checkley.  The Gyrenes would attempt to rattle Checkley early on.  Aaron Pigna opened up with a triple, and he would soon score off a Rico Soto sacrifice fly.  Checkley, however, maintained his poise.  He struck out Ryan Keegan before forcing Sanchez into a fly ball out to right field for the game's final out.

As mentioned earlier, Oviedo asserted himself in a big way for the Bobcats.  He finished three for four with two RBI and a two-run home-run.  Bermudez was his usual efficient self, going three for five at the plate.  Chacin continued his superb play with two hits and an RBI.  Nico Hernandez also went two for five, and Downs tallied a hit and an RBI.  Santamaria went one for five in his outings, but hit the RBI double that first got the Bobcats on the board.  Oscar Rodriguez, Adam Duarte, and Michael Centeno each had a hit on the day.  Defensively for the Bobcats, Alex Hernandez yielded only one run while tossing five strikeouts in his eight innings pitched.  Hernandez would be credited with the victory at the game's conclusion, which improved his overall record to 2-1.

The Bobcats are faced with a short turnaround as they head to St. Petersburg for a match-up against Eckerd College, tomorrow at 5 P.M. E.T.  The Bobcats were previously scheduled to face Eckerd in March, but scheduling conflicts forced the game to be moved to its current date.