Bobcats Heading to NAIA World Series for the 5th Time

Bobcats Heading to NAIA World Series for the 5th Time

Bookmark and Share

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The St. Thomas University baseball team is heading to the NAIA World Series for the first time since 2007.  St. Thomas (44-16) defeated top seed and host Georgia Gwinnett (50-14) 8-2 in Friday's Championship Game of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.
 
Starting pitcher Marcos Barrios was masterful on short rest, earning the win after allowing two runs on seven hits over 7.1 innings.  Barrios earned his second win of the Opening Round on two days rest.  For the tournament, Barrios pitched a total 14.1 innings, allowing two runs on 13 hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks and threw 209 pitches.  His ERA for the Opening Round was 1.28.
 
Offensively, the Bobcats were led by third baseman Paul Chacin who went 3-4 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI.  CatcherSteven Fischer went 2-3 with three RBI and left fielder Jerry Downs was 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.  First baseman Eric Santamariawent 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Designated Hitter Nico Hernandez went 2-4 with two runs scored.
 
Georgia Gwinnett took the lead 2-0 with a two-run home run by Kyler Timmerman with two outs in the top of the first.  The Bobcats responded with four runs in the bottom of the first as Downs, Santamaria and Fischer hit back-to-back RBI singles.
 
With the lead 4-2, Chacin came to the plate to lead off the third with a solo home run to left to give the Bobcats a three-run lead.  STU added three more runs in the seventh with RBI singles by Downs and Fischer.
 
Brandon Valentine, Alex Viera and Chris Rodriguez combined for 1.2 innings of scoreless relief of Barrios.  After allowing two runs in the first inning, the STU pitchers shut out the Grizzlies for the final 8.1 innings.
 
With the win, St. Thomas earn a spot at the NAIA World Series for the fifth time (1996, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2015) in school history. 

For more information stayed tuned stubobcats.com and follow all news for the upcoming NAIA World Series at http://www.naiaworldseries.com/
 
-30-