Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Benedictine University Baseball team continued its tour at the Central Florida Invitational with another nationally ranked for, falling to 23rd ranked St. Thomas 8-5 on Monday.

The Eagles played with the Tommies for a majority of the contest but fell victim to the long ball. Benedictine used the big fly in the first inning to strike first. With two outs, Ryan Mullin singled down the left field line. Cleanup man John Cervantes rocked his first homer of the season over the wall in left, handing Benedictine a 2-0 lead.

St. Thomas immediately responded in the bottom of the first against Benedictine starter Matt Vucovich. Nick Reichert doubled in Tim Kuzniar, who scored from first after a walk.

The Tommies took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs. With runners after first and second following consecutive failed sacrifice bunts, leadoff man Charles Bruchu put one over the wall in left as St. Thomas jumped ahead 4-2.

Benedictine scored three consecutive runs to battle back and again lead the nationally ranked Tommies. With two outs in the fifth, Chris Wanderling singled up the middle, stole second, and crossed the plate on an RBI single from Dan Zust to pull the Eagles within a run. There were two outs again in the sixth inning when Tom Higgins drove his first homer of the year over the wall in right-center to tie the game. An unearned run in the same frame allowed Benedictine to grab the edge. St. Thomas tied the game in the bottom of the inning, also with an unearned run.

Another Reichert homerun in the seventh against side-slinger Nick Mishevich allowed the Tommies to take the lead for good. Reichert hit a two-run shot as the second batter of the frame. St. Thomas tacked on insurance in the eighth to account for the final margin. The Eagles were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth but could not rally in dropping to 2-2 on the trip.

Vucovich pitched 4.2 innings in a no decision, walking three and striking out one. Mishevich suffered the defeat after throwing 1.1 innings. Steve Cocat and Wanderling each recorded two hits in the contest.

Benedictine (4-3) is off on Tuesday but returns to action against Union College at 11:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday.