FORT MYERS, Fla. - The twentieth-ranked Bobcats (40-13) showed their knockout potential with a crushing victory over the eighteenth-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles (33-17) on Saturday evening.  It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Bobcats, who asserted their dominance early and often, scoring runs in every inning except the fourth.  The contest was never in doubt and the Bobcats cruised to their second victory of the Sun Conference Tournament virtually unchallenged.

The Bobcats struck first in the game's opening inning.  A little help was provided as Embry-Riddle's Tyler Cyr walked the first two batters he faced.  Hitting out of the third spot, Jerry Downs delivered an RBI single up the middle for the first run scored of the day.

The good fortunes would continue for the Bobcats in the top second as the Eagles undermined their efforts with a plethora of mistakes.  Nico Hernandez was the first beneficiary when he was able to score off a wild pitch.  This was soon followed by a Cesar Ramirez RBI single up the middle, scoring Michael Centeno.  Another wild pitch by Cyr would score Bryan Bermudez.  The Eagles would be forced into a pitching change, but that did not absolve their poor play.  Downs and Ramirez would soon make their way home thanks to a Hunter Bruehl fielding error.  The Bobcats finished the inning with five runs off three hits and two Embry-Riddle errors.

St. Thomas would continue to flex their bats at the Eagle's expense.  A two RBI sinle by Bermudez scored Adam Duarte and Oscar Rodriguez in the third, and he would score a run of his own off another Eagle wild pitch in the fifth.  In between those scoring drives, the Eagles were able to add a run off a Kyle Buchanan ground-out.  However, one run was not enough to counter the ensuing Bobcat scoring run.

The top sixth made for another productive inning for the Bobcats, who finished with three runs off three hits.  It began with a Rodriguez RBI double to left field, which scored Eric Santamaria.  It continued two batters later, when Bermudez hit his second two RBI single of the day.  Two additional runs came in seventh, one off a Steven Fischer RBI double, and the other off a Duarte RBI single.  A Downs RBI double scored Bermudez in the top eighth for the Bobcats fifteenth run of the night.

The top ninth was not much kinder for the Eagles.  Two Bobcat hitters were walked in consecutive plays with the bases loaded, improving the Bobcat lead to 17-1.  A few moments later, Centeno scored off a Brandon Canizares fielder's choice.  18-1 would remain the final as Embry-Riddle, consistent with their play throughout the match, was unable to generate any runs.

Bermudez was the evening's standout performer.  He finished three for four with five RBI.  He routinely delivered clutch hits to score multiple Bobcat runners.  Rodriguez and Duarte each finished with three hits and one RBI.  Downs, as he has done all season, proved a steady hand hitting out of the third spot in the lineup.  He went two for five and notched two RBI.  Fischer made his mark with two hits and an RBI.  Centeno had an efficienct day as well going three for five in his plate appearances.  Further illustrating the Bobcats depth of hitting were players such as Ramirez and Canizares, who each had an RBI.

Pitching wise, the Bobcats were held down by the likes of Alex and Andres Hernandez.  Alex Hernandez pitched seven innings and only surrendered one earned run off six hits.  He was also good for three strikeouts.  Andres Hernandez was inserted in the seventh and retired all batters faced.

The Bobcats next opponent will be determined via the winner of the Thomas-Embry-Ridde match-up, set to take place tomorrow at 11 A.M.  First pitch for the Bobcat's evening match is slated for 7 P.M.