MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 12, 2021) - No. 4 St. Thomas University (STU) (3-3, 1-0 TSC) opened up play in the Sun Conference Series of the Week against No. 15 Keiser University (11-1, 0-1 TSC) with a 1-0 win/ on Friday night from Paul Demie Mainieri Field.

Bobcat Starters

• Kobe Lopez - Shortstop
• Josue Rangel - Second Base
• Alejandro Rivero - Third Base
• Robin Fernandez - Designated Hitter
• Andrew Fernandez - First Base
• Daniel Mondejar - Catcher
• Jack Khawly - Right Field
• Daniel Lowry - Center Field
• Joey Thompson - Left Field
• Gio Soto - Pitcher

Game Notes

• The Sun Conference Series of the Week began with a marquee pitching match-up, featuring Gio Soto and two-time Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week, Pablo Arevalo.
• Soto made his home debut, escaping a jam in the top of the first with back-to-back strikeouts and stranding a runner on third base.
• The match-up lived up to its billing, as the No. 4 Bobcats and No. 15 Seahawks engaged in a pitchers duel.
• No. 15 KU had runners reach third base in each of the first three innings, but Soto was able to halt the momentum in each frame.
• Keiser's best chance to score against Soto came in the top of the fourth inning, with runners on first and second and two outs. A line drive into the left-center field gap looked to plate the game's first run, but Lowry's strong throw to Mondejar cut down the run at the plate and ended the inning.
• After allowing a lead-off infield single to Lopez, Arevalo set down the next 11 Bobcats before allowing consecutive hits to R. Fernandez and A. Fernandez in the bottom of the fourth.
• No. 4 STU was unable to plate a run in support of Soto, as he left the game after five strong innings, racking up nine strikeouts.
• Jose Ledesma entered the game for St. Thomas for his second appearance of the season in the top of the sixth inning.
• Ledesma retired each of the nine Seahawks he faced, totaling five strikeouts, including three in the eighth inning.
• Lowry started the bottom of the eighth inning with a one-out double to the right-center field gap, but the Bobcats failed to capitalize against Arevalo, sending the game into the ninth tied 0-0.
• Luis Gonzalez pitched a scoreless ninth inning, as the game went into the final frame tied 0-0.
• Rangel led off the inning with a double off the left-field fence. Rivero reached first following a bunt and R. Fernandez was intentionally walked to load the bases for A. Fernandez.
• On the first pitch of A. Fernandez's at-bat, he was hit by the pitch as the Bobcats broke the scoreless tie, and walked off with a 1-0 victory and handed the Seahawks their first defeat of 2021. 

MVBobcats

Gio Soto: 5 IP, 9 strikeouts, 0 R

Jose Ledesma: three perfect innings

Andrew Fernandez: 2-3, RBI

Upcoming

No. 4 STU continues the Sun Conference Series of the Week against No. 15 Keiser on Saturday, February 13, with a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. from Paul Demie Mainieri Field. 

-STU-