WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jack Diaz and Orlando Rivera homered, while Rene Arauz recorded eight strikeouts as St. Thomas (27-10) defeated Palm Beach Atlantic (20-12) 8-4 Tuesday night.  With the victory, STU has now won 10 of its last 12 games.

Diaz hit a three-run home run in the top of the first to begin the scoring.  Rivera then hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning.

Arauz was outstanding in his start, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out eight and walking one.  The eight strikeouts matched a career high as a collegiate for the freshman.

Jose Pupo and Devon Stubbings relieved Arauz with Anthony Justiniano coming in for the ninth inning.  Justiniano closed out the game, striking out two of the three batters he faced, to preserve the Bobcat win.

The game started with leadoff hitter Rivera hitting a single followed by a Michael Centeno walk. Diaz then blasted his fourth home run of the season down the left field line.

After the Sailfish cut the lead to 3-1, James Spatafora led off the fourth inning with a double.  Rivera then homered to right field to extend the lead to four runs.

The Bobcats added to their lead on a 2-RBI  single by Spatafora that scored Oscar Rodriguez and Kendrick Gutierrez who had moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by German Morales.

The sixth inning saw one more run come home for the Bobcats to make the score 8-1 as Centeno singled, stole second, stole third, then scored on a balk.

The Sailfish added one run in the seventh and two runs of the eighth but it proved to be too little too late for the home team.

In total, the Bobcats recorded 14 hits with six players recording multi-hit games led by a 3-for-5 performance by Rodriguez.

STU returns to play with a three-game Sun Conference series vs. Webber International beginning 6 p.m. Friday at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.