2/25/13- The FCC Suns Baseball team earned a split in their series with Northwood University this past weekend which, in a three-game series, is not very easy. However, since the two squads battled to a 12-12 tie in a wild opener on Friday, and then split the doubleheader on Saturday then the series itself ended in a split. The wild series opener saw FCC open up a 10-5 lead over the Seahawks behind a strong outing from pitcher, Nick Beavers, (So., Deltona, FL). However, the Suns bullpen allowed Northwood to get back into the game and eventually take a 12-10 lead in the top of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the frame FCC showed the ability to bounce back and scored two more times to tie the game before the game was called due to darkness. Northwood took advantage of one big inning in the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader to earn the win. In the nightcap Andres Cancio (So., Orlando, FL) pitched a 1-hit shutout gem, flirting with a no-hitter until the next to last inning. The Suns belted nine hits, including two triples for Cancio, as they won handily, 7-0. Cancio’s performance on the mound, along with a stellar 7-for-12 with three triples, three RBI’s and four runs scored during the series, earned him the NCCAA National Baseball Player of the Week Award. The Suns were also led at the plate during the series by Elim Perritte (So., Powder Springs, GA) who was 6-for-9, with 3 RBI’s and Ramon Cedeno (Fr., Osceola, FL) who was 4-for-9, with 5 RBI’s. Suns Head Coach, Jon Copeland, was encouraged by many parts of the Suns performance during the series, “We are playing tough competition very solidly. In just our first month of the season that is the second top tier Sun Conference (NAIA) opponent that we have done very well against in a 3-game series. The opener should have been an easier win for us, but our bullpen needs some more experience and they will be in good shape. Our offense is beginning to come together now, and that is great to see”. The Suns travel to the west coast of Florida this weekend for a doubleheader at Eckerd College on Saturday and then another doubleheader at Ave Maria University on Monday.