BOCA RATON, Fla. - Lynn University's baseball team began the season with a double-header sweep, 5-4 and 7-2, over 24th-ranked Catawba on Saturday afternoon. The victory marks the third time the Fighting Knights have started their season with a win over a nationally-ranked opponent under head coach Rudy Garbalosa.  Jed Vandernaald and Jose Parra picked up their first wins of 2014 while Enrique Perez went 5-for-7 with three doubles and two runs batted in.    

Lynn began the day holding off a late Indians' rally to begin the season 1-0. The Blue & White scored the bulk of their runs in the third inning, taking advantage of an error and five hits. Starting with a Mike Gonzalez single, Michael Stemle and Perez both recorded but singles to load the bases. Catawba had a throwing error off a potential Tom Kain double-play that brought home Gonzalez and Stemle. Two batters later Sal Giardina drove home Perez with a hard hit ball to first and Ackerdman ended the scoring with a RBI single to left field.

The following inning Kain made it a 5-0 Lynn lead with a RBI single, bringing Gonzalez.

Vandernaald was sterling in his opening day performance, tossing five scoreless innings with three strikeouts.  He gave way to Robert Guarnieri but the sophomore transfer surrendered four runs before giving way to Andrew Melchor.  The Fighting Knights senior closer earned his first save of the year with a perfect frame.

Led by Perez's three hits; Gonzalez, Ackerman and Alex Debellis also had multi-hit games. Vandernaald pitched five scoreless frames in the victory.

The Blue & White started slow in the encore, trailing 2-0 through five and a half innings. Lynn made its rallying call in the bottom of the sixth when both DeBellis and Giardina scored on Catawba's starting pitcher to knot up the score at two.  The Indians would go through four pitchers and allow seven runs in total before getting out of the frame. Highlighted by Perez's two RBI double, Lynn scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and secure the sweep.

Throwing on a limited pitch count, starter Jimmy O'Neill lasted 1.2 innings before giving way to Parra.  The junior right-hander pitched the final 5.2 innings, allowing just three hits and no runs with three Ks.

Lynn's opening weekend concludes tomorrow with a matchup against Tusculum.  First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm.  Fans can watch the game live at LynnFightingKnights.com and receive in-game updates by following @LUKnights on Twitter, Instagram and Vine.