WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – 25th ranked St. Thomas (27-14, 10-5 TSC) defeated 19th ranked Keiser (27-16, 10-6 TSC) 8-3 on Tuesday afternoon in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
Oscar Rodriguez and Kendrick Gutierrez hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to bust open the lead for St. Thomas.  With Adam Duarte on base, Rodriguez hit a bomb to left for his first home run of the season.  In the next at bat, Gutierrez hit a solo shot, also to left, for his second homer of the year.  In total, the Bobcats scored four runs on five hits in the seventh as an RBI-single by Oscar Aguirre scored Bryan Bermudez to start the scoring parade.
 
The Bobcats opened with a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice by German Morales, then Gutierrez scored on a throwing error.  The Seahawks scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, but STU responded with a run in the fifth on an RBI-ground out by Cesar Ramirez that scored Michael Sanchez and a RBI-single by Morales to score Rodriguez.
 
Rodriguez, Gutierrez and Morales all had three-hit games as the Bobcats recorded a total of 14 hits, including two doubles and two home runs.
 
Emilio Valdez started the game for the Bobcats and went 3.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three and walking four.  Alejandro Kan earned the win in relief of Valdez.  Kan (3-0) pitched 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts and no walks.  Brandon Valentin pitched a scoreless seventh inning, followed by Devon Stubbings who shut out the Seahawks in the eighth.  Eric Torrente pitched the bottom of the ninth, allowing one earned run.
 
St. Thomas returns to action this weekend with a three-game conference series vs. Ave Maria at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.  The series begins 6 p.m. on Friday evening at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.