STU Wins Big Over Lynn (#22 IN NCAA DII)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - First baseman Jerry Downs hit a grand slam and Oscar Aguirre hit his second homer in as many games as St. Thomas (10-1) defeated Lynn (ranked no. 22 in NCAA DII) 12-6 on Tuesday night at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.
Downs, a sophomore from Miami St. Brendan High School, hit the grand slam to cap off a six-run second inning that gave the Bobcats an early 8-0 lead.
Lynn (8-3) cut the lead to 8-5 with two runs in the fourth and a three-run fifth. STU added a run in the fifth followed by a solo home run by Aguirre (2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 3 RS) to make the score 10-5 through six.
After a scoreless seventh, the Fighting Knights scored a run in the top of the eighth. The Bobcats responded with two more insurance runs on RBI-singles by designated hitter Paul Chacin (3-5, RBI, RS) and left fielder Adam Duarte (4-4, double, RS, 2 RBI) in the bottom of the frame.
Center fielder Edwin Medina (3-6, double, 2 RBI, 2 RS) also had a big game offensively for the Bobcats.
Brandon Valentin, a freshman lefty from Nova Southeastern HS, improved his record to 2-0 after allowing five runs through five complete innings.
St. Thomas returns to action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. vs. Northwood at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.