March 20, 2007

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Jacksonville University scores six unanswered runs to blow by homestanding Bethune-Cookman University on Tuesday night by a count of 6-2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Three runs in the top-half of the ninth inning were all that was needed for visiting Jacksonville (15-13) to hold off Bethune-Cookman.

B-CU (9-17) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning as senior first baseman Angel Negron started off things with a double shot to left center, followed by a wild pitch thrown by JU starter Matt Dobbins. That wild pitch allowed Negron to advance to third base safely with no one out.

Chris Henault's fielder's choice RBI did produce the go-ahead run with Negron, but Angel Mercado was called out on the play. After Henault advanced to second base with yet another wild pitch from Dobbins, designated hitter Chris Brown singled up the middle to plate Henault for the 2-0 Wildcats advantage.

The Dolphins of JU bounced back to tie the game in the top-half of the fifth inning as Chuck Opachich finally found a way to get to B-CU starter Hiram Burgos with a single up the middle to score Matt Gardner and Thomas LePage on the play. However, a costly out would be recorded for the Wildcats as Kevin Ferreira hesitated to round third base. That allowed the `Cats to record the out on the rally from right field all the way to catcher Alejandro Jimenez on the play.

JU went ahead 3-2 in the sixth inning as back-to-back singles by the Dolphins eventually chased Burgos from the mound. That produced reliever Phil Enright from the bullpen with two runners on first and second base, respectively. A balk from Enright allowed the base runners to advance once more, eventually leading to an RBI single to center field from LePage that scored McAllister for the 3-2 lead.

But the biggest blow of the game came in the ninth inning as the Dolphins went ahead by an insurmountable 6-2 advantage with the courtesy of three (3) crucial runs.

Gardner started things off with a single to right field off closer Francisco Gomez, followed by a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second from teammate Logan James.

Ferreira singled to centerfield to put runners on the corner and Opachich was walked to load up the bases with one out.

That led to a hit-by-pitch on Pete Clifford to plate Gardner and give JU the 4-2 lead.

After Gomez was pulled for freshman Felix Machado on the hill, quickly got to work on him too with a two-run scoring single by McAllister to plate both Opachich and James for the final of 6-2.

The win went to reliever Glenn Witkowski of the Dolphins who went two innings on the mound with just one hit allowed to the `Cats. The loss was tagged to Burgos who allowed three runs (two earned) on seven Dolphins hits. Matt Davis earned his third save of the year in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

JU was led at the plate by centerfielder Kevin Ferreira with two hits in three trips, including a run scored. Mike McAllister collected three hits in five appearances at the plate with one runs cored and two RBI.

As for the Wildcats, they were led by Angel Negron and Chris Henault's who each went 2-for-4 at the plate on the night. Henault also added one RBI along with Chris Brown.

The Dolphins will get back to diamond tomorrow night when they host top-ranked Florida State University at 6:30 pm at Alexander Brest Field in Jacksonville, Fla. It is the first time in school history the Dolphins has hosted a #1 ranked opponent at Alexander Brest Field.

As for the Wildcats, they will open up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference [MEAC] play on Saturday with a home doubleheader affair with rival Florida A&M University at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Both contests will have live stats on the B-CU athletic website through Game Tracker.