Miami Shores, Fla.- Lynn University's baseball team fell, 12-6, in a non-conference match to St. Thomas on Tuesday night. The Fighting Knights move to 8-3 overall and will begin Sunshine State Conference play this weekend. Mike Gonzalez and Michael Stemle each went 3-for-4 with an RBI a piece. Rob Guarnieri (0-1) was handed the loss in his first career start for the Blue & White.
St. Thomas took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but really took control of the game an inning later when the Bobcats scored on a single to left field with a runner on third. Jose Parra came in to relieve Guarnieri, but found himself with bases loaded, a base hit scored the first run and Downs sat back on a 1-1 pitch sending it over the right center field fence, giving the Bobcats an 8-0 lead.
Lynn would get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning when a double to left center scored Matt Ackerman all the way from first base. An RBI bunt by Stemle would give Lynn another run two batters later.
The Fighting Knights tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Sal Giardina Jr. began a two-out rally with a bomb off the scoreboard in left field. Joe Anzeveno hit a single through the right side to score Ackerman and Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to cut to deficit to 8-5.
STU retaliated in the bottom of the fifth with a run and another in the sixth. The Fighting Knights battled hard but were only able to score a run in the eighth before the Bobcats scored their final two runs in the bottom of frame to secure the 12-6 win.
Five pitchers came out of the Lynn bullpen with Parra and Kyle Butcher doing most of the work. STU's Brandon Valentine tossed five innings allowing thirteen hits before the Bobcats used their bullpen.
Lynn returns to the diamond on Friday, February 21, when the Fighting Knights travel to Rollins for a three-game series to open the SSC season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and fans can follow live at LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to follow @LUKnights on Twitter, Instagram and Vine.
