Miami Gardens, FL-- ASA Miami Baseball Coach Jonathan Hernandez has been preaching two things to his team all season. Pitching and defense. 

The Silver Storm have gone 13-4 in their last 17 games and won the last five in-a-row. Coach Hernandez and his staff don't think its a coincidence that the staff ERA in that span is 3.80. On Saturday, that trend continued and  it led to ASA Miami earning the schools first Conference win in Baseball over Pasco-Hernando 4-1.

Freshman catcher Ariel Lauries has been struggling at the plate this season. However, he delivered the games biggest hit Saturday when Coach Hernandez sent in the sign for a suicide squeeze with the bases loaded. Lauries layed down a perfect bunt down the third base line that scored Erick Gonzalez.

Both teams played hard and the game had a big-time playoff feel to it. That might be because these two teams will meet again in the Conference championship on April 22nd in New Port Richey. Pasco-Hernando won the season series 2-1 and earned the right to play the three game series on their home field. 

Sophomore Amado Chirinos got the start for the Storm but just couldn't seem to find his groove, walking three batters in a quick three innings of work. That opened up the door for Redshirt freshman Chris Grullon who picked up his team leading fifth win of the season. Grullon went four innings and did not allow a run while striking out three batters. Grullon is currently tied for seventh in NJCAA Division II with 52 strikeouts in the season. That set things up for hard throwing Freshman Alex Valverde. Valverde earned his first save of the season in two solid innings of work. 

Up next ASA Miami plays Webber International JV on Monday night in Lake Whales at 7pm.