MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (5/3/2023)- The St. Thomas University (STU) Baseball team opens up the post season in the Sun Conference Tournament against the Webber International Warriors. The game will be played at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, in West Palm Beach tomorrow at 6pm.
 
In the series starting March 31^st, the Bobcats entered as underdogs to the #6 ranked Warriors. In game one the Bobcats were defeated 12-6, and it looked like it would be along series for STU. Webber hopped out to an early 5-1 lead, but the Bobcats were able to battle back making it a one score game in the bottom of the second. The Warriors ran away with it in the fourth and fifth inning going up 10-4, never really giving STU a chance. Bryan Morales tallied four hits for the Warriors which led the team, and Blayne Huter got the win on the mound going five innings with 3 strike outs and 7 hits.
 
In game two of the three game series, the Bobcats battled back winning in extras as Robin Fernandez walked it off with a single down the right field line. Webber started the game carrying all of the momentum they gained in game one, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. The Bobcats bat started going in the bottom of the fourth scoring 2 making it a two run game. The game was at a standstill until Angelo Piloto stepped in the box at the bottom of the eighth drilling a homer over the center field wall to make it a one run game. With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the ninth Chris Schoeller hit a sack fly to center field which Rey Hernandez was able to tag up at third to tie the game.  The Warriors got a spark in the top of the tenth going up 7-4, not looking good for the Bobcats. STU rallied however leading to Robin Fernandez single to win it 8-7. Richard Sanchez was outstanding on the mound going 6 innings giving up just 5 hits and striking out 7 batters.
 
The third and final game was one were the Bobcats said they were not losing. It was a 0-0 game until the bottom of the third when Brian Garcia knocked a single to right field scoring Joey Thompson. In the bottom of the fourth Robin Fernandez was able to score on an Angelo Piloto grounder to second where he was out. The Warriors however tied the game at 2 in the next half inning. The game was a stale mate until in the bottom of the sixth the Bobcats exploded for 5 runs. In the bottom of the seventh Chris Schoeller kept the momentum hammering one over the left field wall. The Bobcats scored two more in the eighth off a Brian Garcia double, and would walk away with the 11-4 victory. Crosby Bringhurst earned the win on the bump tossing 6 innings striking out 4 giving up just 5 hits. Brian Garcia was feeling it the whole game at the plate, tallying 3 hits and 3 RBI's.
 
Expect this to be a good matchup as the Warriors have been good all year, and are coming off of a series sweep of #18 Ave Maria in which they scored 25 runs in 3 games. The Bobcats could go multiple directions with their starting pitcher, expect to see either Chase Chatman, or Crosby Bringhurst. The Warriors however seem to see lefties pretty well, and considering Crosby Bringhurst went 6 innings striking out 4 and giving up 5 hits in the third game of the series between the two teams, you could see the righty in this one. Brian Garcia, Chris Schoeller, Joey Thompson, Kendry Noriega, and Angelo Piloto are all batting above .300. Angelo Piloto has made a strong push at the plate late here in the season hitting 11 homeruns on the year, and two 2 homerun games.