MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.  (February 4, 2020) - No. 2 St. Thomas (3-1) defeated Florida National University, 14-4, on "ring day" and the 2020 home-opener on Tuesday evening from Paul Demie Mainieri Field.

Bobcat Starters
Kobe Lopez (Second Base), Joey Thompson (Center Field), Alejandro Rivero (Shortstop), Daniel Mondejar (Designated Hitter), Jack Khawly (First Base), Joshua Martinez (Right Field), Cristian Alvarez (Third Base), Andrew Fernandez (Catcher), Gus Guerra (Left Field), Joel Rivero (Pitcher)

Game Notes

• Joel Rivero made his first career start for St. Thomas, lasting four innings and striking out six Conquistadors.
• Rivero began the game by setting FNU down in order, with two strikeouts.
• The Bobcats offense opened the game with back-to-back extra-base hits; Lopez began the game with a double off the left-field fence and Thompson blasted his first home run of the regular season. 
• At the top of the second inning, Florida National tied the game with a two-run home run of their own.
• St. Thomas quickly reclaimed the lead and did not look back. Guerra tripled to bring in Orlando Borroto.
• Lopez followed Guerra with his second double of the game, extending the lead to 4-2.
• Lopez later scored on a wild pitch, capping off a three-run inning, in the bottom of the second.
• Martinez opened the bottom of the third inning with his second home run of the season (team lead).
• Fernandez and Guerra both added home runs in the third inning, as the Bobcats extended the lead to 8-2.
• Rivero continued into the fourth inning, striking out his final two batters of the game to end his evening.
• STU  added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, reaching double-digit runs.
• Onelio Perdomo brought in Brett Mantrana on an error by the Conquistador left-fielder. 
• Erik Estevez scored two-runs for STU, as he singled through the right side with the bases loaded; extending the Bobcat lead to 11-2.
• Borroto added another run for St. Thomas, scoring on a wild pitch.
• Luis Gonzalez made his collegiate debut, entering in the fifth inning and earning his first career win.
• Perdomo launched a ball over the batting cages in left field, for the first home run of his career, giving STU a 13-2 advantage.
• With St. Thomas leading 13-2, Daniel Bonsanti entered the game for St. Thomas.
• The Conquistadors scored two runs, following an error, extending the game to the bottom of the seventh trailing STU 13-4.
• Estevez polished off the win, bringing in Izquierdo with a walk-off sacrifice fly, as No. 2 STU won 14-4.

The four St. Thomas outfielders (Thompson, Martinez, Guerra and Perdomo) all combined to go 5-9 with four home runs.

        


MVBobcats
Kobe Lopez: 3-3, two doubles
Gus Guerra: 2-4, HR (first career home run)
Andrew Fernandez: 2-2, Solo HR


Upcoming
The second-ranked St. Thomas University Bobcats take on No. 22 Middle Georgia State in a three-game series over the weekend, starting Friday, February 7, from Paul Demie Mainieri Field. The series begins with a double-header on Friday, beginning at 3 p.m.