Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jack Diaz hit a two-run pinch hit home run in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie as no. 2 seed St. Thomas (34-19, 16-8 TSC) defeated no. 6 seed Warner (27-26, 12-12 TSC) 7-3 in an elimination game Saturday at The Sun Conference Championship Tournament at City of Palms Park.

Alex Viera (7-0) earned the win after a dominant performance in relief of starter Erne Valdes.  Viera pitched five shutout innings allowing just four hits, while striking out five and walking none.

The Bobcats trailed 3-1 through six innings before adding a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out solo home run to right field by German Morales.  Down a run, STU then tied the game in the eighth on a RBI-single by Jose Gomez to score Michael Centeno.

In the top of the ninth, Kendrick Gutierrez reached base on an error by Warner's second baseman.  Then with two outs, Jack Diaz was called upon to pinch hit.  Diaz belted a two-run homer to left field for the go-ahead runs.  The big inning continued for the Bobcats as Cesar Ramirez hit an RBI-double to score Steven Fischer follows by an RBI-triple by Gomez scoring Ramirez.

In all, the Bobcats scored four runs in the top of the ninth to give Viera the lead to close it out in the bottom of the frame with a strikeout then a pop-up foul handled by Fischer to finish off the win.

St. Thomas will now play at 3 p.m. on Sunday in another elimination game at City of Palms Lark with the opponent still to be determined.