March 21, 2008

Box Score

Miami Gardens, Fla. - The St. Thomas University baseball team lost 14-5 in the first game of a three game weekend series against the Northwood University Seahawks. Jonathan Valezquez was the winning pitcher for the Seahawks. He pitched eight innings before being relieved by Justin Courtright. Valezquez struck out six batters and gave up five runs over those eight innings.

Johnny Montoya was the losing pitcher for the Bobcats(12-12, 4-7 in FSC). He pitched four innings, allowed seven runs and struck out four Seahawks.

The game began with the Seahawks (23-8, 5-2 in FSC) scoring a run in the first inning. The Bobcats answered the Seahawks with a run of their own when Mauricio Rodriguez sent a towering shot to the left-field wall. The shot earned him a double and when Seahawks shortstop Adam Bornstein made an error relaying the ball to second base Rodriguez would advance to third and Marlon Pascual would score.

The Seahawks proved efficient in the third and fourth innings scoring six runs. Mike Schaetzle had a big fourth inning for the Seahawks, he hit a double that brought home two runners. The fourth inning was a long one for the Bobcats, they gave up four runs. They were able to make it out of the inning after extra effort from DePhillip Mason resulted in a diving catch in right-field.

The Bobcats made a pitching change at the top of the fifth bringing in Elias Chigin, with that the Bobcats defense tightened up and forfeited no runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The strong defense inspired the Bobcat bats resulting in three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The productive inning began with an Anthony B. Gonzalez double.

The Bobcats were unable to sustain their play as the Seahawks regained control of the game and scored seven runs over the final three innings, with five scored in the ninth.

Marlon Pascual led the Bobcats in hits with two on four at bats. He also crossed home plate twice and batted a runner in. Mike Schaetzle led the Seahawks in hits with five from six at bats.

The two will complete their series March 22 at Frank R. Esposito Stadium on St. Thomas University's campus with a double header, which begins at 1 pm.