GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The four sure things in life: Death, taxes, Jason Whitlock's silly spouting and
Tyler Norris on the mound for Bethune-Cookman.
Saturday was must win for the Wildcats. Rebel Alliance assault on the Death Star in Episode IV level must win, especially since the Empire had the purchasing power to slap another one together by Episode VI. No matter what anyone would have spun, an 0-2 regional after the regular season the Wildcats enjoyed would be filed right alongside the other 15 or so previously installed in the record book.
But to keep the rotation and routine going,
Jason Beverlin once again gave the ball to
Tyler Norris, who delivered another gem, this one a six-hitter, as he went the distance in a 4-2 victory over Marist that keeps Bethune-Cookman alive one more day.
Tyler Norris, who struck out 11 against Boston College on opening weekend.
Tyler Norris, who helped the Wildcats register quality wins against two teams -- FGCU and Tennessee Tech -- who were 1-0 after Friday night's regional action.
Tyler Norris, who beat Miami.
Tyler Norris, who threw the program's first no-no since the Clinton administration against Savannah State on April 8th.
Tyler Norris, who left his white jersey back in Daytona Beach, forcing the Wildcats to wear maroon on yet another hot and humid summer afternoon in the home of Danny Wuerfell's greatest gridiron memories.
Okay, so maybe the kid isn't 100 percent reliable in everything…
"We're not going to bring that up," said Beverlin, allowing himself a smile after his team played the kind of game they have all season, not the whatever that was Friday against USF as he moved him past Hall of Famer Mervyl Melendez on the Wildcat baseball coaches' all-time post-season victory list (Sorry, Mervyl. Couldn't resist).
Beverlin probably did some chewing out Friday night regarding the emotional effort. That difference was evident, along with a confidence knowing the guy on the mound could and would get the job done.
It didn't hurt that
Nate Sterijevski's two-out, two-run single through the left side in the bottom of the first allowed Norris to pitch with a lead, either.
Norris, now 9-1, got timely defense, especially in the fourth when an
Adonis Lao-to
Jameel Edney-to-Sterijeviski (7-5-6 if you're scoring at home) relay caught a Marist runner off third for the final out of the inning, killing a rally.
After Edney's yard shot in the fifth, Norris shut down Marist in the sixth and kept momentum in his favor.
"It's big when your guy is up there on the mound and every time the other team's make a threat, he's calming things down," Beverlin said. "He had a lot of quick innings."
Even after giving up that eighth-inning homer, there was little doubt Norris could go the distance. The change-up was still filthy, and he was still hitting his spots.
Norris fanned two in the ninth. Enough said.
"My first-pitch strikes were a lot better today, Norris said. " I could mix my off speed pitches and keep their batters off balance the whole game."
Bethune-Cookman now has a Sunday noon contest against either USF or Florida. Maybe even a 7 p.m. game if that first Sunday game goes really well. Can someone in Daytona Beach bring over Norris' jersey just in case?
