Lynn University

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University baseball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Friday afternoon, erupting for 16 runs on 15 hits while the pitching staff combined for a dominant shutout in a 16-0 victory over Saint Leo. The Fighting Knights wasted no time setting the tone, scoring early and often behind a five-RBI day from Joel Tapia-Melo and a balanced offensive attack, while a four-man pitching effort kept the Lions off the scoreboard and limited them to just four hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lynn jumped ahead early as Justin Lopez doubled and Amaris Harrison walked before Joel Tapia-Melo delivered a two-run single to give the Fighting Knights a 2-0 lead in the first
- The Blue and White added another run in the second when Charlie Devito walked, stole third and scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Harrison
- Tapia-Melo continued to drive the offense in the third, lifting a sacrifice fly to score Scout Simpson before Ivan Herrera reached on an error to bring home Jason Lashley and extend the lead to 5-0
- Lynn's pitching staff kept Saint Leo off the board through the early innings, working around scattered traffic and holding the Lions scoreless through four
- The Fighting Knights added two more in the fifth as Cole Beck and Devito delivered back-to-back RBI singles to push the lead to 7-0
- Lynn broke the game open in the sixth, scoring seven runs behind a two-run single from Tapia-Melo, an RBI walk from Herrera, a two-run double from Beck and a Saint Leo error that plated two more
- Jackson Tyer, Herrera, Beck, Devito and Lopez all recorded hits in the seventh as Lynn tacked on two more runs to make it 16-0
- The bullpen closed the door from there, with Chase Ennis, Jacob Smith and Marcus Korenkiewicz combining to keep Saint Leo scoreless over the final five innings
- Korenkiewicz finished it off in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to seal the shutout victory for the Fighting Knights
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Lynn exploded for 16 runs on 15 hits, marking one of its most complete offensive performances of the season
- Tapia-Melo led the charge, going 3-for-4 with 5 RBI and a sacrifice fly
- Beck finished 3-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI, delivering key extra-base production
- Devito added a 2-for-4 day with 2 RBI and a stolen base
- Lopez recorded a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in a run at the top of the lineup
- Herrera reached base three times, scoring 3 runs and driving in 1
- Tyer tallied two hits and scored twice, while also reaching via hit-by-pitch
- Lynn drew 9 walks and was hit by pitch three times, consistently creating traffic on the bases
- The Fighting Knights scored in six different innings, highlighted by a 7-run sixth inning that broke the game open
- On the mound, Alfonso Lombardi set the tone with 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits
- Ennis earned the win, tossing 3.0 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts
- The bullpen was dominant, as Ennis, Jacob Smith and Marcus Korenkiewicz combined for 5.0 hitless innings with 7 strikeouts
- Overall, Lynn pitching limited Saint Leo to just 4 hits and 0 runs in the shutout victory
 
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights are set to close out the series with the Lions on Senior Day Saturday with doubleheader action getting underway at 12:00 p.m.