BOCA RATON, Fla. – A day after offensive records flew out the window, Lynn University's baseball team used pitching and defense to split its double header 1-2 and 4-0 to take the series against Rollins.  Ryan Lashley and Paul Stortini drove in two runs apiece, Jed Vandernaald struck out a career-high eight batters and Andrew Melchor added his fifth save of the season.  The Fighting Knights improve to 16-8 overall and 2-1 in the Sunshine State Conference.

Fans at the Lynn Baseball Field must have thought 'Here we go again' after the Blue & White scored one run in the first inning of game one.  Enrique Perez singled up the middle and was brought home by a double from Lashley down the left field line.

Rollins (14-9, 1-2 SSC) settled down and starter Taylor Smith (3-1) would blank Lynn over the next five innings before giving way to Eric Morse.  Smith struck out eight batters and allowed seven hits.

Vandernaald battled a bit of wildness with four walks but lasted eight innings allowing just two runs with eight Ks.  The junior righty navigated through a bases loaded, no outs jam in the third by allowing just one run but gave up a two-out RBI single in the fifth to Steve Betcherman for the game-winning run.

The dynamic duo of Perez and Lashley teamed up again to give LU a 1-0 lead in game two. Perez opened up with a double to left center field and scored two batters later on a soft chopper to second.  Sal Giardina added to the Lynn advantage with a two-out RBI single in the second, putting the Fighting Knights ahead 2-0.

Kentrail Pierce (4-1) also had some control problems.  He allowed just three hits and no runs over five innings but hit four batters.  Pierce was also aided by catcher Joey Sharkey, who threw out two runners.

Melchor entered in the sixth and got two of the first three batters he faced out before surrendering a two-out double to Zach Persky to give the Tars runners on second and third.  Brandon Curson was left defenseless, though, on a breaking-ball out of the zone to end the threat.  

Still on top 2-0, Stortini decided to give his hurler a little cushion in the sixth.  Jason Matusik kept the inning alive with a two-out double and Stortini drove in a pair on the second pitch he saw with a two-run single into the gap in right center field.  That was all Melchor needed as he added two more strikeouts in the seventh to lock down the save, and the series victory.

The Fighting Knights return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 19, at 3 p.m. when they host Franklin Pierce.  Fans can catch the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com and receive in-game updates by following @LUKnights on Twitter and Instagram.