MIAMI GARDENS, Fla – St. Thomas (17-7) defeated Felician (6-5) by a score of 11–5 on Wednesday night.

The Bobcats fell behind early, after the Golden Falcons jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning. After a slow start, Andrew Denis, who typically is a reliever, settled in with two 1-2-3 innings. Denis started the game due to the hectic schedule of playing six games in five days. These games are all included in the STU Baseball Invitational.

Orlando Rivera led things off in the bottom of the third inning with a walk. Kendrick Gutierrez followed with an infield single, that scored Rivera from first following a throwing error by the pitcher. Rivera showcased his speed as he snuck into home plate on a head first slide, narrowly evading the catchers tag. Gutierrez scored off a throwing error by the Golden Falcons catcher, and David Palenzuela brought home Jack Diaz with a double to left. This gave STU a 3-2 lead.

The lead didn't last long, as Felician plated two runs to take a one run lead in the top of the fourth. But the Bobcats kept fighting, and tied the game at four in the bottom half of the inning.

After battling for the lead in a back and fourth game, the Bobcats struck for three runs to take a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The highlight of the inning was a single by Nick Canino that brought home two runs.

In the sixth inning, Randy Oliva led off the inning with a blast to left field for a home run off the Jumbotron. The homer put the Bobcats ahead 8-5. Oliva wasn't the only Bobcat to homer, as Jack Diaz sent one deep into the night sky in left for a three run homer in the seventh.

The game ended 11-5.

Make sure to head to the ballpark tomorrow as St. Thomas continues its quest in the STU Baseball Invitational.