Melbourne, Fla. – Starter Jason Beaumont picked up the Lynn University baseball team when it needed it most and got some much needed help from his offense. The Fighting Knights turned away Florida Tech 9-2 in Sunday's rubber match as Beaumont struck out six batters in seven innings and Austin Smith, Mike Diorio and Anthony Boza combined to go 8-for-13 with four RBIs and five runs scored. Lynn improves to 22-18 overall and 6-9 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Trying to keep their postseason hopes alive, the Blue & White looked to Beaumont for their third consecutive quality start on the mound. The junior transfer didn't disappoint, scattering eight hits and fanning six batters over seven innings without issuing a walk for his sixth victory of the season. Knights' starters posted a 2.91 earned-run average in the series against the Panthers while the pitching staff as a whole had a 2.20 ERA.
Just as it had done the previous game, Lynn jumped on the scoreboard early as Johnny Broderick gave LU a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a RBI single down the right field line to score Wes Soto. Two more runs in the third, one off a Boza double and the other via a Mannelly single, and the rout was on.
Florida Tech (25-15, 8-10 SSC) was able to close the gap with runs in the fourth and sixth frames but the Knights countered at each turn. A solo home run by Smith in the fifth was the first response while Dane Derstine added a RBI single in the seventh to make it 5-2.
Panther's starter Josh Ziemba went six innings, allowing four runs with just one strikeout. AJ Hillenbrand, who pitched three shutout innings in Saturday's 13-inning marathon, had less success this time around, surrendering four runs in 1.2 innings of work.
Broderick opened up the game in the eighth with his second RBI and was followed by back-to-back RBI base knocks by Smith and Diorio. Lynn added its final run in the ninth when Steven Fernandez drove home Alex Bello.
Shawn Kale tossed two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three Panthers. Smith went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and two runs while Diorio was 3-for-4 and Boza 2-for-4. Mannelly, Fernandez and Broderick also logged multi-hit games for LU.
The Fighting Knights return to action on Friday, April 22, at 3 p.m. when they host Eckerd College. Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."
