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Florida National University

Scoreboard

Erik Fuentes pitching in 2025 at home
Edgar Santos
9
Winner Florida National (FL) FNU 23-24
8
Carolina (N.C.) CAROLINA 22-26
Winner
Florida National (FL) FNU
23-24
9
Final
8
Carolina (N.C.) CAROLINA
22-26
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Florida National (FL) FNU 3 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 9 13 1
Carolina (N.C.) CAROLINA 1 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 14 1

W: Saunders, Brandon (2-2) L: Matthew Kelley (2-5)

13
Winner Simpson (CA) SU 26-24
5
Florida National (FL) FNU 23-25
Winner
Simpson (CA) SU
26-24
13
Final
5
Florida National (FL) FNU
23-25
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Simpson (CA) SU 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 4 13 13 0
Florida National (FL) FNU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 5 6 6

W: Bo Valladao (4-3) L: Fuentes, Erik (1-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Brenda Bogle

Baseball boasts first-ever CAC Tournament win before exiting Georgia in a 13-5 loss to Simpson

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (April 30, 2026) — Conquistador baseball (23-25) is winless in the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament no more, defeating Carolina University (22-27) 9-8 before falling to Simpson University (26-25) in a 7 p.m. duel.

In its 11 a.m. contest against the Carolina Bruins, FNU got off to a stellar start with three runs in the top of the first. An RBI groundout by Christopher Rivera, a run by James Snyder on a Fausto Sanchez fielder's choice, and a one-score double by Alejandro De Armas highlighted the opening frame for the No. 3-seeded Conquistadors.

The Bruins tied things up, however, with back-to-back RBI singles from Danny Gonzalez and Daniel Isbell, along with a score on an error from FNU's Gino Gazzillo. CU kept the runners moving, earning a 6-3 lead in the second. Andres Hoyos connected on a base hit to run in two teammates, while Nathan Wesley's single to centerfield added another run to the board.

Dwayne Dabian was the difference maker in the fourth for FNU, leveling the game at six apiece with a two-run base hit after Kanjiro Fujita's groundout bought enough time to score Sanchez in the fourth. This tug-of-war continued until FNU and the Bruins found themselves tied 8-8 heading into extra innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, defensive sub Andres Penate Jr. came up clutch with a diving catch in right field to end the frame. CU had one runner on and was denied what could have been the game-winning double. De Armas later sealed the deal with a run in the top of the tenth, making it home on a wild pitch.

Brandon Saunders was credited with the victory at the mound for FNU, pitching four great innings with two strikeouts and no runs allowed.

FNU's battle versus Simpson University was highlighted by a stellar performance on the mound by Erik Fuentes. The Hialeah Gardens, Fla., native went 6.2 innings with two earned runs and two of FNU's four strikeouts.

Both teams settled into a tied 1-1 ball game after Duke Aloy got the Red Hawks on the board with an RBI single in the first, and Rivera broke through for FNU with a one-run double in the third.

Fuentes had things under control until a pop fly in the infield dropped between FNU's second baseman and shortstop for a two-run single in the seventh. This opened the floodgates for the team out of California offensively, as Simpson posted six runs in the eighth for a 9-1 lead. FNU made critical errors down the stretch, dropping fly balls in the outfield and juggling routine groundouts in the infield during this Simpson stretch.

The Conquistadors did not go quietly into that good night, getting three runs in the bottom of the eighth off a home run from De Armas. This singular act of offensive brilliance from the freshman was overshadowed by another huge four-run inning by Simpson.

FNU had the last of its six errors in the ninth, but got runners on in the bottom of the inning to score one last run on a walk by De Armas with the bases loaded. Simpson's closer Nathan Palacioz ended the game on a strikeout of Sanchez.

Up Next: FNU awaits selection to the USCAA Small College World Series with Bid Day set for May 4.

 
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