DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Anthony Maldonado went 5.1 scoreless innings, and local product Brandon Wilkes cleaned up the rest on the mound Saturday afternoon in helping Bethune-Cookman to a 6-0 win over Milwaukee at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The victory gives Bethune-Cookman its first series win of the young 2018 campaign.
 
Sophomore Anthony Maldonado set the tone on the hill – and for the second consecutive game, BCU took advantage of Milwaukee errors in order to achieve the series win.
 
Bethune-Cookman (3-4) started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when designated hitter Giovany Lorenzo drove in leadoff man Jameel Edney with a single to left. Edney reached to begin the BCU at-bat being hit by the second pitch of the game from Milwaukee starter Jake Sommers. He later advanced via Kyle Corbin's single to right and a double play ball grounded out by Danny Rodriguez that allowed Edney to reach third base.
 
The Wildcats held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom-half of the third inning.
 
BCU would explode for five runs in the frame to produce the 6-0 decision.
 
Milwaukee (1-5) walked the first three men of the at-bat to load the bases for Lorenzo. A fielding error by Panthers second baseman Mike Ferri allowed Edney and Corbin to score on the play. Just one pitch later, Joseph Fernando made it 4-0 in favor of the Maroon and Gold with his RBI ground out to third, allowing Rodriguez to scamper home from third.
 
Senior left fielder Adonis Lao tallied a sacrifice fly to left that pushed across Nate Sterijevski for the 5-0 score. And it would be catcher Chase DeBonis registering a run-scoring double down the left field line to score the BCU shortstop Sterijevski and finalize the six runs on the day for Bethune-Cookman.
 
Maldonado, the Preseason Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Pitcher of the Year, scattered just two hits and struck out a game-high eight batters with zero (0) walks in collecting the win and earning his first decision in just two early starts on the campaign.
 
In his first action of the year, right-hander Brandon Wilkes worked the final 3.2 innings on the bump for the Wildcats in earning the first save of his collegiate career. He did not allow a hit in his time on the hill, walked one batter and fanned three.
 
The loss went to Milwaukee's Sommers, evening his record at 1-1 for the season. He would throw three innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
 
BCU used six different batters with a hit in the contest, led by Corbin's perfect 2-for-2 showing at the dish, adding a run scored.
 
Bethune-Cookman goes for the series sweep of the Panthers on Sunday at 11 a.m. BCU will trot out freshman right-hander Jeremy Adams to start on the hill, while Milwaukee counters with redshirt sophomore right-hander Matt Vanek.
 
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