March 24, 2007

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University baseball started off the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season with a bang on Saturday as they took the first two games of the three-game series against rival Florida A&M University with scores of 17-4 (Game #1) and 4-2 (Game #2).

In the conference-opener for both teams, FAMU and B-CU put on a great show for both fans and coaches today as good and bad plays led to two (2) key wins for the Wildcats in the early MEAC [Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference] season. The two other teams battling for MEAC supremacy this season, Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T, split a doubleheader today in Norfolk, Va.

B-CU (11-17, 2-0 MEAC) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first game as FAMU starting pitcher Cirilo Manego was roughed up early-on. The Wildcats scored in the first inning on a balk and a solo-homerun from Angel Mercado over the left field wall.

Five runs came across for the `Cats in the second frame as three (3) Rattlers errors led to two of the runs. Mercado knocked in another score as he singled to left center to bring across José Ortiz-Rivera. Shortstop Luis Gonzalez scored later in the inning as first baseman Angel Negron collected a fielder's choice RBI to plate Gonzalez from third base.

As B-CU starter Francisco Rodriguez was spinning a gem on the mound for the Wildcats, FAMU (1-24, 0-2 MEAC) struck for two unearned runs in the top-half of the third inning to chip into the B-CU lead, 7-2.

Adam Gordon singled on a bunt, and then came in to score on an infield error charged to the Wildcats as Jared Jeffries laid down a perfect bunt as well. Stanley Gnat picked up a sacrifice fly later in the inning to deep centerfield that plated Jeffries from third.

B-CU scored seven more runs through the course of the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the lead back out to 14-2.

During that stretch, Ortiz-Rivera collected a two-run scoring single to centerfield, and sophomore Chris Brown collected a run-scoring double for the Wildcats as well.

FAMU's Anthony Mazzeo blasted a two-run homer in the eighth to cut the lead to 14-4.

But in the bottom of the inning, the B-CU subs continued the offensive barrage with three runs.

Back-to-back walks issued to Luis Gonzalez to collect his second triple of the ballgame to plate both runners. Right fielder Michael Range also collected an RBI on the next at-bat to score Gonzalez for the 17-4 final.

"The guys off the bench for us today were very eager to get into the game, and they did a good job," admits head coach Mervyl Melendez. "We need those guys to get used to coming into the game for us, and sometimes in key situations. They are going to have to come off the bench cold and perform, and they did a good job with not a lot of pressure on them today."

The win went to the Wildcats Francisco Rodriguez who upped his record to 3-2 on the season, while FAMU's Manego collected the loss to drop to just 1-4. In the process, Rodriguez collected back-to-back wins, as well as his sixth consecutive in MEAC play dating back to a perfect 6-0 campaign in 2006.

Angel Mercado finished 3-for-5 at the plate in the first game with one run and two RBI. Senior Luis Gonzalez, playing in his first game at shortstop while Chris Henault played third base, went 2-for-6 with three runs and two RBI. Neil Jones was also a hot 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI from his left field position.

In the second game, the Wildcats needed a furious late rally to edge the Rattlers for the doubleheader sweep.

A pitcher's duel seemed to be on the way as FAMU's Ben Baylor and B-CU's Joseph "Gio" Gautier were tic-for-tac in matching each other until an unfortunate injury forced Baylor out of the game.

José Ortiz-Rivera blasted a laser back up the middle right back at Baylor that ricocheted off his throwing hand (left), putting pressure on him to leave the game. He tried to get the next batter, nut Gonzalez was walked on five pitches as Baylor struggled to grip the ball and fire.

With Baylor out of the game, the Rattlers immediately tried to get runs on the board before the Wildcats made their run. And score they did.

FAMU posted two runs in the fourth inning as a costly error by B-CU's Gonzalez threw a laser to first base gunning to get Jared Jeffries, but the ball sailed past the glove of Angel Negron. That sent Jeffries to second base with no one out. The Rattlers quickly took advantage of the error as Stanley Gnat gunned a triple down the right field line, pulling back on a seemingly sacrifice bunt, completely catching the `Cats defense off guard.

With Gnat already plating Jeffries, Anthony Mazzeo collected a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Gnat for the 2-0 Rattlers advantage. B-CU would make their run in the fifth inning as FAMU head coach Joe Durant tried to push the envelope in the top-half of the inning, but the Rattlers were caught on back-to-back great defensive plays from the `Cats. Elvin Millan was caught trying to steal third, and Tim Schalch struck out on one of Gautier's three fans on the afternoon.

B-CU catcher Alejandro Jimenez started off the fifth frame for the Wildcats with a solid triple to right center that caught a shallow Rattlers defense off guard. Jimenez came in to score two batters later as senior second baseman José Almonte collected his only hit of the game with an RBI single shot back up the middle to score Jimenez from third. Almonte came in to score on the next play as Gonzalez registered an RBI single to right field.

But that's when the hero of the day, Angel Mercado, collected the eventual game-winning RBI single to right field to move Gonzalez across the plate for the go-ahead score at 3-2. Mercado was plated by Chris Henault single through the left side later in the inning.

With the `Cats up 4-2 after five inning, Gautier shut down the Rattlers bats the rest of the way. He didn't allow a single hit through the sixth or seventh frame.

"FAMU is a good team, and their performance on the field really doesn't show 1-24," comments Coach Melendez. "They are aggressive, and they never quit. That's a testament to what Coach Durant and that program brings to the field everyday. They work hard, and they have battled with a lot of teams just like we have in Mercer, Indiana and Jacksonville. They are much better than their record shows, of course."

Gautier posted his second win of the year to even his record at 2-2, while FAMU's Artist Patton collected the loss in relief action of starting pitcher Baylor. Patton lowered his record to 0-1 in his first decision of the year out of the pen.

Gautier went the entire way for the Wildcats, surrendering two unearned runs on three hits on the hill.

The only multi-hit game came from Mercado with a 2-for-3 outing for the Wildcats.

As for the Rattlers, Gnat was the high man with one run scored on one hit with an RBI to boot.

"These were two good wins for us today," stated Coach Melendez. "We needed this wins, including a close win in game number two for us to see we can win big and close. We've lost so many close games, that it's good to get another close win for our mental state."

The wins today stretched the Wildcats MEAC winning-streak out to 17 games dating back to their 15-0 conference mark last season. They have also won 20 consecutive games against MEAC foes with three wins in last year's MEAC Tournament in Norfolk, Va.

The two teams will meet-up again tomorrow for the final game of the three-game set at 1 p.m. back at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Live stats will once again be broadcast via the B-CU athletic website (www.BCCathletics.com) through Game Tracker.