MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (May 13^th, 2019) – The 2019 Miami Gardens Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round began on Monday morning from Paul Demie Mainieri Field, with a match-up between No. 4 seed Talladega College and No. 5 Thomas University.

A 3-2 victory for the Tornadoes was made possible following a solid effort from Manuel Caballero (6.0 IP, five strikeouts, Win) both on the mound and at the plate
(1-4) guided TC, as David Padilla earned his 11^th save of the season.

The Nighthawk offense was a force at the top (1-3), as the top three hitters in the Thomas University lineup, combined to go 8-12, with two RBIs, two runs and a Home Run. Chase Hinson opened the tournament with a 4-4 performance and Jake Bryan (2-5) brought in both Thomas runs (solo HR, RBI groundout).
Final: Talladega College 3, Thomas University 2

In game two of the Miami Gardens Bracket, second-seeded, William Jessup University, took on third-seed, Bryan College in a rain-soaked and delay-filled contest.
Both teams scored three runs in their respective halves of the first inning, as Lake Burris (2-5) launched his 28^th home run of the season, giving the Lions a 3-0 advantage.

The Bryan lead was short-lived, however, as the Warriors responded with a three-run bottom half of the first inning, capped off by a Will Law (2-3) home run, his 12^th of the season, tying the game at 3-3.

The game remained deadlocked at 3-3, despite several weather delays, until the bottom of the eighth inning. WJU scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly and advancing to the winner's bracket with a 4-3 victory.
Final: William Jessup University 4, Bryan College 3

Sixth-ranked St. Thomas University (43-13) opened play in the Miami Gardens Bracket against game one winner, Talladega College (26-25), advancing to the winner's bracket, following an 8-0 win over the Tornadoes on Tuesday morning from Paul Demie Mainieri Field in the NAIA Opening Round.
Bobcat Starters: Urbaez (2B), Delgado (SS), Lopez (RF), A. Rivero (3B), Garabedian (1B), Diaz (DH), Thompson (LF), Mondejar (C), Lowry (CF), Rodriguez (SP)
Game Notes

• Orlando Rodriguez (9-2) turned in a vintage performance (8.0 IP, ten strikeouts, zero earned runs) to guide St. Thomas to an Opening Round win, while earning his ninth win of the season.
• STU opened the scoring with a RBI groundout from Rivero, plating Urbaez, in the bottom of the first inning.
• The Bobcats added a second run in the bottom of the second inning, as Lowry scored Thompson on a RBI groundout of his own.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lopez launched his team-leading 16^th home run of the season, establishing a new single season career-high for the senior.
• St. Thomas took complete control of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs, to take an 8-0 lead.
• Gus Guerra entered as a pinch-hitter for Thompson and doubled off the right field fence, bringing in Allende; Mondejar scored Guerra on a RBI single and Delgado capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to make the lead 7-0.
• Joel Rivero recorded the final three outs, clinching an 8-0 win for St. Thomas.

MVBobcats
Gus Guerra: 2-3, 2B, RBI
Daniel Mondejar: 3-4, RBI
Orlando Rodriguez: 8 IP, ten strikeouts, win
 
Upcoming
No.1 St. Thomas University will take on No. 2 William Jessup University in a semi-final game on Tuesday afternoon from Paul Demie Mainieri Field, as part of the NAIA Opening Round, Miami Gardens Bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.