MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – St. Thomas (47-5) continued its winning ways with a rain-shortened 17-0 win over Florida National on Friday night from Paul Demie Mainieri Field. The Bobcats (#2 Perfect Game, #4 NAIA Coaches Poll) have won 34 of their last 36 games since March 1
st.
Orlando Rodriguez (12-0) completed a perfect regular season, earning his 12
th win of the season. Rodriguez pitched all five innings in the rain-shortened game, allowing only one hit with seven strikeouts. With Rodriguez's seven strikeouts, the ace starting pitcher passed the century mark registering his 100
th strikeout on the season.
The Bobcats opened up the game with a nine-run bottom of the first, to blow the game open early. Elih Marrero (2-3, 2-R HR, 5 RBI) got STU on the board first as he launched his fourth home run of the season to bring in Erick Delgado. Following a Jackie Urbaez hit-by-pitch and a Nelson Mompierre double, Sergio Lopez (2-2, 2-R HR, 4 RBI) hit a two-run double to extend the lead. Marrero in his second at-bat of the inning hit a bases clearing double to give him five RBIs in the inning.
Oscar Rodriguez (2-3, 3 RBI) added two more runs for St. Thomas on a two-run single in the inning as well.
Lopez hit his 12
th home run of the season in the second inning over the light pole and batting cages to give STU a 7-0 lead.
The Bobcats transitioned from the starters to and the bench players continued to rake, Juan Martinez hit his first St. Thomas University home run in the fourth inning to extend the lead even further.
The three-game series concludes with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will start prior to the first game of the day at approximately 11:45 a.m. to honor the nine St. Thomas University seniors.
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