2/2/13- The Florida Christian College Suns Baseball team began their 2013 season by winning a 3-game series, with the Ave Maria University Gyrenes, at home. After dropping the series opener on Friday, 0-12, the Suns rallied behind some impressive pitching to sweep the Saturday doubleheader, 4-2 and 2-1 and take the series. Head Coach, Jon Copeland, was pleased with the team’s performance, “Ave Maria is a solid program, and they could be in the top half of one of the toughest NAIA conferences in the country this season. To come out of the box, in our first series, and show this type of fortitude and competitiveness is very positive for us”.

Nick Beavers (So., Deltona, FL), got the season opening start for the Suns against a Gyrenes squad that already had four games under its belt, and came into the contest with a 3-1 record. Beavers dueled with Ave Maria’s Zach Quayle until a six-run 6th inning by the Gyrenes allowed them to pull away. On Saturday, Taylor Cornelius (Fr., Bartow, FL), took the mound in the first game and proceeded, in his first college start, to construct a near masterpiece as he held Ave Maria hitless through five innings and finished with six strikeouts through 6.2 innings of work in picking up the win. Returning All-American, Eric Santamaria (So., Miami, FL), came on to induce the final out of the game and pick up his first save of the season. The Suns, who collected seven hits, were led at the plate by Santamaria who was 2-for-3 with two doubles and fellow returning All-American, Erick Figueroa (Sr., Jacksonville, FL) who slugged a double and picked up an RBI. In the nightcap, Andres Cancio (So., Orlando, FL) picked up right where he left off from last season, after tossing a complete game shutout victory in his final appearance during the 2012 NCCAA World Series. In his complete game victory over the Gyrenes, Cancio scattered nine hits, while only surrendering one run and striking out six; including the final out of the game, with the tying run stranded at 3rd base. The Suns did just enough with their four hits, including the eventual game-winning 2-run single by Ramon Cedeno (Fr., Kissimmee, FL), to complete the double-header sweep.

The Suns take the field next this Tuesday when they host Southeastern University at 3pm at home, at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex.