WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - #21 St. Thomas University (13-3, 5-1 TSC) split the double header against #10 Keiser University (8-5, 3-4 TSC) winning the first game 16-3 and dropping the second game 8-7 on Saturday as St. Thomas was able to win the series between the two nationally ranked Sun Conference opponents.

In game one of the doubleheader the Bobcats offense erupted to the tune of 16 runs off the strength of 21 hits, all nine of the starters entering the game had at least one hit. Jackie Urbaez continued to be a steady presence at the top of the lineup for St. Thomas going 4-for-6 with a 3-run homer which added to his total of three runs and seven RBI en route to his 3^rd Golden Rake award on the season for the Bobcats. In addition to the contributions from Urbaez, Chris Garabedian raked from the second spot of the lineup as well, going 3-for-5 with his first career St. Thomas University home run and added three RBIs.

The Bobcats were able to pull away late as the home runs from Urbaez and Garabedian were parts of an eleven run final three innings of
the game.

Chris Rodriguez (3-0) faced the tough task of providing an encore performance on the heels of his near no hitter in his last start against Ave Maria. Rodriguez provided St. Thomas with yet another quality start, going eight innings, striking out seven and allowed three earned runs. The performance was enough to earn Rodriguez his third win of the season. Sawyer Losey pitched the ninth inning in relief.

In game two of the doubleheader it was a back and forth affair between the two conference rivals.
Ian Exposito made his first weekend start for the Bobcats and continued his roll on the season, going six innings, striking out seven Seahawks and allowing two earned runs. Heading into the start Exposito had gone 13 innings on the season without allowing an earned run, he would extend the streak to 16.2 innings before allowing the first earned run on a sacrifice fly. Exposito turned the ball over to Alex Sarmiento in the seventh inning with the Bobcats winning 3-2. Keiser would add a run off Sarmiento to tie the game on a single. St. Thomas would score four runs in the eighth inning and Keiser would match with four runs of their own off three home runs. With the game tied in the ninth inning, Erne Valdes came into the game and received his first loss of the season after allowing a walk-off home run.

Offensively, Randy Oliva (1-4, 2-Run HR) hit his third home run on the season in the sixth inning to give St. Thomas the lead at 3-2. In the four run eighth inning, Nelson Mompierre (2-4, 2-run HR, 3 RBI) hit his fourth home run on the season to give the Bobcats the lead again at 5-3. Urbaez (2-4, RBI) would add another RBI on a double as part yet another two hit day on a RBI double.

The Bobcats will be back in action on Saturday, March 3^rd against Trinity International and Miami University Hamilton in a double header as St. Thomas will begin their spring break road trip to Vero Beach and Lakeland, Fla.