Miami Gardens, Fla. – The St. Thomas University Athletic Department marches into the new month with a full weekend on campus, starting with Baseball opening their weekend series against No. 21 Loyola on Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. and continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. before concluding on Sunday, Mar. 2 at 12 p.m. The 15th-ranked Men's Volleyball Team welcomes five Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) foes for a Conference Pod on Saturday, Mar. 1 and Sunday, Mar. 2 with both days starting at 8 a.m. while Men's Rugby hosts the University of South Florida on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 2 p.m.
 
BASEBALL vs LOYOLA
Date: Feb. 28 | 6 p.m. / Mar. 1 | 1 p.m. (Doubleheader) / Mar. 2 | 12 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | Paul Demie Mainieri Field
Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets

St. Thomas (10-5) enters the second half of its season-long 15-game homestand after last seeing the field in a 9-6 setback against 19th-ranked Taylor University in the final matchup of the NAIA Ball Big Series of the Week on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Bobcats hit .279 with a .403 slugging percentage off 20 doubles and 13 home runs while adding 88 RBI, 66 walks and 20 stolen bases. Lucas Lopez leads three mainstays in STU's lineup, hitting over .300 with a .340 clip, scoring a team-high 22 runs alongside four doubles while Angelo Piloto boats four home runs and 18 RBI.

On the mound, the Bobcats sport a 4.84 ERA with 81 runs allowed, 69 earned, in 128.1 innings while striking out 146 batters. Carlos Polanco holds a 1.27 ERA in a team-high 21.1 innings over four starts, striking out 28 batters while Sean Bencosme records a team-best three wins on top of two saves in seven appearances.

Loyola (13-3) travels to the Sunshine State riding a seven-game winning streak, most recently defeating Xavier (La.) 17-7 on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Wolfpack hit .347 with a .554 slugging percentage off 38 doubles, five triples and 17 home runs on top of 153 RBI, 106 walks and 54 stolen bases. Brandon Mooney boasts a .556 hitting percentage and a .704 slugging percentage off eight doubles while Marcus Steen adds two triple and Cole Romero hits four home runs. Landon Trosclair steals 10 bases.

On the mound, Loyola holds a 5.33 ERA with 129 strikeouts over 120.0 innings while allowing 77 runs, 71 earned. Caden Burand is 2-0 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA in 6.2 innings over four appearances while Prescott Marsh strikes out a team-leading 21 batters in 15.2 innings.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL hosting AAC CONFERENCE POD
Date: March 1 | 8 a.m. (Truett McConnell) / Mar. 2 | 1 p.m. (St. Andrews) 6 p.m. (Carolina)
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
Media Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets

The Bobcats (6-1, 4-0 AAC) returns to the Sunshine State riding a six-game winning streak, most recently defeating Talladega College 3-1 on Friday, Feb. 21. STU boasts a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)-leading .349 hitting percentage while averaging 12.33 kills, 8.04 digs, 1.85 service aces and 1.61 blocks.
 Gabriel Negrao paces the offenses behind 4.00 kills which ranks ninth nationally, followed by reigning NAIA National Attacker of the Week Kaelen Ingram who adds 3.65. Matheus Collares orchestrates the offense behind 10.62 assists, second-best rate in the country, while Murilo Hauri averages 1.11 blocks.

Truett McConnell (5-2, 1-1 AAC) takes on STU to open the Conference Pod after last seeing the court in a 3-2 triumph at Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Bears average 6.75 kills on a .048 hitting percentage with 10.25 digs, 1.08 blocks and 0.65 service aces.

Kyle Gregory sparks the Bears behind 2.15 kills and 0.46 blocks, getting his feeds from Wensky Saintilmond who averages 5.65 assists while Jackson Adams tallies a team-high 2.13 digs
 
RUGBY vs USF
Date: March 1 | 2 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | AutoNation Field
Media Coverage: Live Video