LAKE WALES, Fla. (March 8^th, 2019) – Tenth-ranked St. Thomas University Baseball (18-7) split the doubleheader on day two of the Warner Invitational on Friday Night. STU took on the University of St. Francis (4-11), losing 5-3 and came back to defeat Madonna University (12-11) 6-4 in a thrilling back-and-forth contest.

Game One
Bobcat Starters: Jackie Urbaez (2B), Erick Delgado (SS), Chris Garabedian (2B), Alejandro Rivero (3B), Sergio Lopez (RF), Jack Diaz (C), Jordan Morina (1B), Joey Thompson (CF), Gus Guerra (LF),
Danger Guevara (SP)

Game Notes

• Danger Guevara made the start for St.  Thomas, pitching into the sixth inning, only allowing two earned runs and striking out six.
• St. Francis scored their first run of the game in the top of the first inning, leading off the game with a triple and scoring two batters later on a RBI single.
• Guevara did not allow another Fighting Saint to score until he left the game in the sixth inning, throwing zeroes in four consecutive innings.
• USF added another run in the sixth inning, with two outs, as Ernesto Pino allowed an inherited runner to score.
• Pino replaced Guevara in the sixth inning, and gave STU an opportunity to get the offense back into the game.
• The Bobcats were finally able to generate offense in the bottom of the sixth inning, as doubles by Garabedian and Lopez pushed across the first St. Thomas run of the game.
• STU rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh; Thompson reached with a leadoff walk, Guerra laid down a sacrifice bunt, Urbaez walked, Delgado walked and Garabedian tied the game on a sacrifice fly.
• St. Francis hit three home runs in the top of the eighth inning, including back-to-back homers off, to take a 5-2 lead over STU.
• Lopez led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run of his own, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
• St. Thomas loaded the bases in the inning to put the winning run on first base for Delgado, as the senior lined out to end the game at 5-3.

Game Two
Bobcat Starters: Delgado (SS), Guerra (LF), Urbaez (2B), Rivero (3B), Lopez (RF), Garabedian (1B), Nick Izquierfdo (DH), Daniel Mondejar (C), Thompson (LF), Orlando Rodriguez (SP)

Game Notes

• Orlando Rodriguez made his return to the mound, as the All-American pitched five innings and allowed one earned run, while striking out two.
• The Bobcats and Crusaders engaged in a pitcher's duel for the first five innings, with STU scoring first in the top of the fourth inning.
• Garabedian drove in Guerra on a RBI single to right field, putting St. Thomas ahead 1-0.
• Madonna added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead of the game at 2-1.
• The Bobcats responded with a four-run top of the sixth inning, reclaiming the lead at 5-2.
• Daniel Mondejar doubled to left field, bringing in Lopez and Garabedian. Later in the inning, Delgado brought in Allende, extending the lead to 4-2. Guerra followed the sacrifice fly with a single, plating Thompson to cap-off the inning.
• The Crusaders scored two more runs in the sixth, against Alex Sarmiento, as Sarmiento stranded the tying run on third with a strikeout.
• Alejandro Rivero led off the top of the seventh with his fourth home run of the season to provide the Bobcats with an insurance run in the final inning.
• Sarmiento was replaced by Jason Graña, in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a runner on first base.
• Graña earned the save, striking out two Crusaders and stranding the tying run on first base to seal the 6-4 STU win.

MVBobcats
Gus Guerra: 2-4, RBI
Jason Graña: Save, two strikeouts
Daniel Mondejar: 1-3, double, two RBI

Upcoming
No. 10 St. Thomas returns to action tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m., taking on St. Francis in a rematch in the conclusion of the Warner Invitational.
-STU-