MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (February 20, 2024) - A breezy Tuesday evening couldn't keep the red-hot Bobcats off their game. St. Thomas (8-0) remains undefeated with a double-header sweep of Florida National (7-6), 4-0, 7-6. The second game highlights the day as the Bobcats made a late comeback to secure the win.

Anna Toon counties to be the star in the circle and in the box. Toon picked up both wins on the day with a complete game victory in game one giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out six. Game two saw Toon in relief out of the bullpen going 4.1 innings allowing just three hits and one earned run with four more strikeouts. 

In the box Toon went 3-for-3 in game one with a run an RBI, and a double. 

Game one saw the Bobcats strike first once again scoring two in the bottom of the first. Mya Achenbach started the game with a leadoff walk and stole second. She was then brought in by a double off the left field fence from Natalie Kopicova. Toon then doubled to center and brought home Kopicova for the 2-0 lead.

STU tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to secure the 4-0 lead. Both teams went quietly in the last two innings to close out the game.

Game two saw the offense jumped ahead early again, this time putting up four in the top of the first. Achenbach once again drew a leadoff walk, then stole second. A double from Destiny Falquez brought home her home this time. Bianca Palacios had a two-out single to center that brought home Kopicova and Falquez to make it 3-0. An error by the shortstop allowed Kaitlynn Martinez to reach base and bring home Palacios for the fourth run.

This time though, Florida National did not go down without a fight, and a little help from the STU defense as they out up five in the top of the third to take their first lead of the day at 5-4. The Conquistadors tacked on one more in the top of the fifth off a solo shot.

St. Thomas worked their way back into it and regained the lead for their third come from behind victory this season. Gilbert got her first home run of the season in the timely manner to get a rally going. Martinez then came up and tripled to right center bringing home Palacios who singled to right on the at-bat before. This tied the game at six all.

After a pitching change, the moment was stopped as Jade Fayad had a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield that easily scored Martinez from third after the tag-up. Toon went out to close the game and did so with a three-up, three-down inning on three groundouts to secure the eighth straight victory. 

Gabriella Gilbert is the only Bobcat to reach base safely in all eight games including recording a hit each game. Kopicova and Achenbach have both reached base safely in seven straight. STU has led first in six of their eight games this year. This is the second straight year that the team with head to the Space Coast Games undefeated.

Up Next

The Bobcats will hit the road and head to the Space Coast Games. They will have 10-games in Melbourne over five different days. The first Day will be February 27 against Oakland City and Michigan Dearborn.

-STU-