Brett Shweky // Staff Writer
For first baseman Nick Day, leading his team with 10 home runs, a 53.6 slugging percentage and 31 RBIs are great accomplishments. But putting practice aside momentarily to rescue a man involved in a serious car-accident in Yuma, Arizona, appears to be his biggest success.
The 30-minute drive on Arizona State Route 303 to batting practice ended suddenly when Day noticed a SUV flip into the median. The first baseman said he swiftly pulled his truck off to the side of the road and immediately tried to assist.
“As I pulled over me and the guy with me went over to assess if anyone needed help” said Day. “We had found a man with his arm severed right below his elbow. Blood flowing from the man’s severely injured arm, the other driver, who stopped with me, suggested making a tourniquet.”
Day said he successfully made a tourniquet using a tire iron and a t-shirt. With this, he was able to slow the bleeding from the man’s arm, which gave paramedics enough time to reach the scene and transport the man to a nearby hospital.
“Looking back, I’m glad I stopped to help because if not that guy probably would have died,” Day said.
During his junior season, the first baseman was able to establish himself as one of FIU’s best players. To go along with his .318 batting average, Day also had 62 hits, 10 doubles, and even managed a triple last season.
He finished the season with a six-game hitting streak, where he went 10 for 27 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs. Last season against the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, he went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs during the hitting streak.
The Panthers went 29-28 for the 2016 baseball season, while going 15-15 in conference play. The now Senior, is looking to build off of last year’s season.
“The team has been working a lot this offseason, [and] we are prepared,” Day said. “Coach Jered Goodwin, one of the assistant coaches on the team, has helped me a tremendous amount this offseason. I’m looking forward to the upcoming season, [and] I feel that the team and myself are going to have a great year.”
Prior to transferring to FIU, Day spent time playing at Arizona Western College. At Arizona Western he earned 2nd team All-Region in consecutive years, while averaging .326 with 13 home runs, 46 RBIs and 14 doubles.
FIU starts the 2017 season against the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the newly renovated FIU Baseball Stadium.
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