April 28, 2007

Box Score

Princess Anne, Md. - Strong pitching and a powerful hitting display pushed visiting Bethune-Cookman University past the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore with 8-0 and 12-1 scores in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader held Saturday at Hawks Stadium in Princess Anne, Md.

With senior Francisco Rodriguez on the mound in the first game, the Wildcats started him off right by pasting up three runs on the board to start the game.

After José Ortiz-Rivera started things off with a leadoff single and Luis Gonzalez drew a base-on-balls, senior right fielder Angel Mercado took a Dustin Longchamps 1-1 pitch over the left field wall well into the neighboring parking lot to put B-CU (23-22, 12-1 MEAC) on top, 3-0.

Rather pedestrian innings took place for the Wildcats until the fifth when they struck for three more runs to all but secure the first contest of the day's doubleheader.

Mercado and Angel Negron both singled and advanced on a wild pitch from Longchamps before senior shortstop Chris Henault drew a walk to load up the bases with just one out. First baseman Alejandro Jimenez then collected an RBI base-on-balls to put the `Cats up 4-0.

Sophomore catcher Drew Clark delivered a huge two-run double to right center that cleaned the bases for everyone but himself to help the Wildcats out to a sizeable 6-0 advantage.

B-CU's Rodriguez allowed a base runner to reach and get into scoring position in the fifth, but finished off the frame by getting UMES (9-35, 5-12 MEAC) leadoff hitter Eric Gaines to ground-out for the final out. Gaines, one of UMES' two lethal weapons in the hitting & defense department, was held in check with just a 2-for-7 performance at the plate.

B-CU relief pitchers Orlando Bacon and Concépcíon Guzman finished off the game on the mound in the eighth and ninth innings to help complete the shutout for Rodriguez.

The Wildcats scored another run in the sixth with an RBI single from Mercado, and again in the ninth as freshman Orlando Bacon stepped to the plate and shot a Daniel Sterling pitch to right field in order to cross Gonzalez with the RBI single.

The win went to Francisco Rodriguez who advanced his record to 7-3 on the year, while Dustin Longchamps took the loss to fall to 3-9 on the season.

Luis Gonzalez was 2-for-3 at the dish while coming across to score three (3) times.

UMES was led by Joel Gonzalez who continues to lead the MEAC in batting as he went 2-for-4, as well as catcher Justin Hoban going 2-for-4 at the plate. Third baseman Kenny Richardson ended the first game a perfect 2-for-2 for the Fighting Hawks.

In the second game, Bethune-Cookman jumped right on UMES starting pitcher Mike Roberts as they crossed six runs to start-off the game in the top-half of the first inning.

With the Wildcats batting around the order, Ortiz-Rivera started things off with a single, followed up nicely two batters later by an RBI single from Mercado. That's when Alejandro Jimenez singled to score Mercado before stealing second base to put him into scoring position.

With B-CU on top 2-0, left fielder Patrick Jones delivered a two-run single through the left side to put the `Cats on top, 4-0. Second baseman José Almonte later singled back up the middle to put B-CU on top 6-0 when he helped score Patrick Jones on the play.

The `Cats scored another run in the second inning as Mercado continued to swing a blistering hot bat with a run-scoring triple to right field that pushed in Gonzalez who singled to right a batter earlier.

The Fighting Hawks of UMES finally entered the scoring column in the bottom of the third inning.

After first baseman Kevin Hillenburg singled, he advanced on a bunt from left fielder Derrick Baker. Baker was later out on a "6-4-3" double play turned by the `Cats, but it allowed Hillenburg to move to third base. That's when senior shortstop Eric Gaines collected his only hit of the game with an RBI single to left field to plate Hillenburg.

B-CU answered right back in the top of the fourth inning with five runs to put the 10-run conference rule in effect as the `Cats stood on top, 12-1.

In the inning for B-CU, designated hitter Angel Negron collected a two-run double down the left field line, while Jimenez followed that up with a run-scoring single of his own off Roberts.

Chris Henault, who had been robbed on a great play from baker earlier in the game, then collected a hit as he drove a first-pitch single to third base that scored two on the play.

Dustin Blackwell and relief pitcher Francisco Gomez finished up the game nice down the stretch with a strikeout [Blackwell] and a double play [Gomez]. The Wildcats defense turned four double plays on the day to pick-up their 38th double play turned on the year.

Blackwell collected the win as he went four innings in a five inning contest [10-run rule] giving up one run on three hits and fanning two batters. He upped his record to 6-4 on the year with the win, while UMES' Roberts took the loss to drop to 2-9 on the campaign.

Roberts allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits and struck-out five batters in four innings of work on the hill. Brian White ended the game for the Fighting Hawks on the hill with an inning of work and no hits allowed.

For the `Cats, they collected double-digit hits for the eighth time in the last 10 games.

They were led at the plate in the second game by Mercado who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Negron was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI, while teammate Ortiz-Rivera has found his groove by going 2-for-3 with a run.

Alejandro Jimenez also collected a multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 outing as he also collected two runs and two RBI for B-CU.

UMES was led at the plate by Hillenburg with a 1-for-1 showing, as well as Gaines with the only RBI of the game as he went 1-for-3. Derrick Baker and Richardson also collected hits for the Fighting Hawks.

The Wildcats and Fighting Hawks will finish up their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. back at Hawks Stadium in Princess Anne, Md. It will be Senior Day for the Fighting Hawks as they will say good-bye to s special group of kids, including a trio that helped lead them to their first-ever MEAC Final last year under former head coach Bobby Rodriguez. Live stats will be available through Game Tracker on www.BCCathletics.com.