AVE MARIA, Fla. – St. Thomas (20-11, 6-3 TSC) used a seven-run third inning to defeat host Ave Maria (10-19, 1-5 TSC) on Wednesday afternoon in Ave Maria, Fla.   It marked the 13th win in the last 16 games for the Bobcats.   The game did not count toward The Sun Conference standings.
 
Adam Duarte (2-5, 2 RS, RBI), Jose Gomez (2-4, 2B, 2 RS, 2 RBI, SB), Oscar Aguirre (2-3, 2 RBI) each had multi-hit games for St. Thomas.
 
Oscar Rodriguez started the momentum for the Bobcats in the third with a singled to lead off the inning.  Jack Diaz then singled to move Rodriguez to second who then advanced to third on a single by Branden Gonzalez.  Adam Duarte then hit an RBY-single to left field that scored Rodriguez.  Pinch runner Michael Sanchez scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch of German Morales followed by Gonzalez scoring on an RBI by Jose Gomez.  Oscar Aguirre then singled to left to score Morales and Duarte.  An RBI-songle by Cesar Ramirez and an RBI on a fielder's choice by Kendrick Gutierrez rounded out the scoring in the big inning.
 
STU added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI-single by Gomez that scored Duarte and another run in the sixth as Gomez scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Ramirez.
 
The Bobcat pitchers held Ave Maria scoreless for the first six innings.  Emilio Valdez started the game and pitcher four shutout innings allowing just three hits, while striking out three and walking three batters.  Eric Torrente (1-1) earned the win after shutting out the Gyenes in the fifth inning, allowing just one hit.  Brandon Valentine (1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K) and Tyeler Checkley (1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H) also pitched shutout innings in relief. 
 
St. Thomas returns to action on Friday for a doubleheader as part of a three-game series vs. Sun Conference foe Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga.