BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn University's baseball team got just enough of its game finished before lightning and rain ended its contest with St. Thomas. The Fighting Knights used home runs by Anthony Boza and Johnny Broderick to win 7-2 in six innings over the Bobcats and improve to 17-13 overall.
Starter Collin McGowan (1-3) earned his first 'W' on the mound for LU, allowing two runs in five innings pitched. The junior lefty ran into trouble early but was able to work his way out despite a 98 pitch count.
St. Thomas (12-22) scored twice in the top of the third to grab a 2-0 lead. A two-out walk to Ricky Claudio extended the frame and gave the Bobcats runners on first and second. Osmani Sanchez made the Knights pay when he ripped a 3-2 fastball into the right center field gap to clear the bases.
It didn't take long for the Blue & White to respond with their own two-out rally. Austin Smith jumpstarted the offense with a single and stolen base and then scored a batter later when Mike Diorio's ground ball single to second was thrown past the bag. Boza followed with his second home run of the year, a bomb just inside the left field foul pole to put LU on top 3-2.
The fourth inning rang similar to the third as Lynn tacked on three more runs. Broderick lit the fireworks first with a solo shot into the left field power alley. Consecutive singles by Danny Herzog and Steven Fernandez continued the threat before a throwing error by Bobcats' catcher Marlon Leyva at third allowed Herzog to trot home and Fernandez to advance to third. Diorio later added a sacrifice fly, giving the Knights a 6-2 advantage.
Another RBI by Broderick made it 7-2 with inclement weather on the horizon. St. Thomas tried its best to even things up in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with one out but Sam Jones came on in relief and induced an inning-ending double-play to squash the rally and preserve the victory.
Lynn returns to action on Friday, April 1, at 3 p.m. when it begins a three-game series with Rollins College. Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."
