ASHEVILLE, NC. (Feb. 18, 2024) - Florida National University's baseball team (6-5) finished out a weekend series versus Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) foe, the Fisher College Falcons (2-6). FNU improved to 2-2 in conference play, while the Falcons earned their first two wins of the 2024 season. On Feb. 18, FC fell 8-3, while FNU did not finish the sweep in game two after dropping an extra-innings thriller 9-8.
In game one, Fisher struck first on an RBI single that scored Jeremy Renta. Yariel Salinas posted a single of his own in the frame before FNU retired the side on a popout to second. The Conquistadors posted a hit in the second off a single from Jose Carpena but were unable to materialize this into a score.
FNU waited for the perfect moment to put themselves back into the contest. A timely two-RBI homer from Roberto Fernandez highlighted what would be a six-run, six-hit frame for the Conquistadors. Carpena added to his single in the second, with a massive double that scored Matthew Gonzalez and Yordangel Gonzalez. Jason Altuve posted a hit of his own that advanced Daniel Reyes safely to home. Altuve was caught stealing moments later, but not before Carpena made his way home to make it a 6-1 FNU lead.
An RBI double from Yordangel in the fourth added to the Conquistadors' lead as both teams remained scoreless in the fifth. Matthew's single in the sixth advanced Fernandez and scored Gino Bellantoni for FNU's final run of the game. Fisher did post two runs in the bottom of the seventh but fell short of a comeback as Jose Aybar was put out on a fly ball to left.
Game two saw FNU keep the bats hot in the first with Jordan Lewis earning a single to start the frame. Lewis later scored on a double from Bellantoni. A sacrifice fly from Matthew pushed Bellantoni home for a 2-0 Conquistador lead to start the game. Fisher answered back in the bottom of the frame with two runs and three hits to tie things up early.
In the second, FNU got their second homer of the day after Altuve delivered a solo strike to give FNU a short-lived 3-2 lead. Fisher evened things again with a costly bases-loaded walk that scored Jake Pontes. FNU's pitching mishaps persisted in the third, as FC gained a run on a balk that scored Jatnier Torres.
FNU caught fire, however, in the four with singles that scored Lewis and Bellantoni. Matthew made it home on a balk and Jeremy De La Cruz's single pushed Yordangel home for the final run of the frame. FC answered back in the fourth with a solo homer from Emanuel Rosado and an RBI single from Yariel Salinas. FC went as far as taking an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the sixth, forcing FNU to put up a score to force it to extra innings.
Lewis answered the call on a double that scored Erick Rodriguez. After a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, Fisher got the win in walk-off fashion on a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Miguel Torres.
Up Next: FNU baseball tackles two Sun Conference giants on Feb. 21, starting with No. 12 Webber International University at 1 p.m.
