March 2, 2008

Box Score

Compton, Calif. - Bethune-Cookman University bounced back on Sunday afternoon with an emphatic 10-4 win over Southern University in the final game of the inaugural MLB Urban Invitational Tournament held at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.

Everyone knew whenever the bats joined the outstanding pitching of the Bethune-Cookman staff, and then the Wildcats would certainly be the most dangerous team in Black College Baseball. That point was made evident on Sunday afternoon as the Southern Jaguars and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats met for the first time in school history.

With controversy surrounding the game of the century between these two storied programs for years, the game was finally put on the field for the entire HBCU world to see Sunday. The problem is that it took place almost 3,000 miles away from B-CU, and about 2,000 miles from Southern's home site of Baton Rouge, La.

"Southern [University] is the program that everyone knows and looks at in Black College Baseball," stated Mervyl Melendez of B-CU. "I have so much respect for Coach [Roger] Cador and that program, as a whole, that it means a lot to finally play them. It doesn't matter that it is in California without a lot of our fans or theirs, but it matters that Bethune-Cookman University was able to take the field against a top-notch coach and program like Southern University. It's the program you look to be like, and then make your own improvements based on a blueprint from that first class, storied program."

B-CU starting pitcher Eric Thomas was nearly flawless for the second consecutive week as he mowed down the hot-hitting Southern (0-4) bats. The hard-throwing right-hander from Gainesville, Fla. was touched just twice on the day and allowed one earned run. He struck-out six batters and was almost untouchable with the awesome B-CU defense right behind him whenever he got himself into trouble with six walks issued on the day in unusual fashion.

B-CU broke open the scoring first as they finally got to SU starter Jarrett Maloy in the home-half of the fourth inning.

Centerfielder José Ortiz started things off with a single to center field, followed by a walk to shortstop José Lozada. That's when B-CU slugging first baseman Osvaldo Torres blasted a two-run scoring double to right field to put the Wildcats (3-3) on top 2-0 after the frame.

The Wildcats continued their newfound scoring outburst in the MLB Urban Invitational Tournament in the next inning as senior Neal Jones walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch from Maloy to put the Wildcats up, 3-0.

Southern finally got to Thomas in the top-half of the sixth inning when right fielder Brad McDavid collected a solo shot to right center to bring the Jags back to within 4-1.

However, the answer homer from McDavid was answered back quickly by B-CU junior catcher Drew Clark registered his first career homerun with a one-out solo shot to right field to bolt the `Cats out to a 4-0 advantage at that point.

The `Cats bats stayed blistering hot in the bottom of the seventh inning when they struck for three runs off Maloy. Lozada was able to plate senior Mark Brooks and Ortiz on a double to left field, while later scoring himself courtesy a Torres sacrifice fly. Lozada got himself into position for the sac fly when Maloy was charged with a balk looking the speedy senior from Las Piedras, Puerto Rico back to second.

B-CU continued their hot hitting in the eight when the bullpen for the Jaguars was once again called upon to try and shut down the Wildcats. This time it was Kyle Wahl being asked to do the task for the boys from the Bayou.

But despite a having probably one of the hottest hitting teams in all of Black College Baseball, nothing the Jaguars were offering seemed to be able to hold back the Wildcats today.

B-CU freshman Neal Jones scored off another wild pitch from the Southern pitching staff.

The B-CU bullpen was touched a bit in the ninth as the Jags tried a last-second attempt for a rally with a two-run homerun off Felix Machado by first baseman Calvin Anderson. He also plated designated hitter Victor Franklin on the play.

The win went to Eric Thomas of the Wildcats who improved his record to 2-0 on the season, going to seven complete innings with the two hits allowed and one run scored. The loss went to Southern's Maloy who dropped to 0-2 on the year. He was tagged for three earned runs on five hits through five innings on the bump.

"Eric did a fantastic job again today on the mound, and he did just what the other two guys did out here the last two days with great pitching to keep us in the game for our offense to try and come alive," expressed B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez. "His ball was really moving today, and his pitches were just good all around."

The Maroon and Gold was led by Ortiz with a 2-for-4 day at the dish and scoring two runs. Beside him was Lozada with a 1-for-2 day with two RBI and a score. Clark and Hoyte's highlight of first career homeruns rounded out the day. Neal Jones was also a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with two runs scored and a RBI to boot.

"I am just so happy for Justin and Drew," continued Melendez. "Drew deserves everything he gets offensively because he is so good on defense behind the plate for us. And Justin has worked hard during the off-season to get himself more prepared for D-I baseball, and he is showing it right now. I just feel awesome for those guys."

Southern was led offensively by five batters with just a hit a piece, but it was Anderson's two-run shot in the ninth that gave the Jags their final score of the game.

"This was just a first-class venue and tournament this entire weekend," praised Coach Melendez of the first MLB Urban Invitational Tournament. "I was so honored to be here, and I'll be honored if they invite us again anytime in the future. It was just first class by Darrell Miller and the entire organization as a whole, and Bethune-Cookman University was honored to be a part of the first--and hopefully more to come in the future."

The `Cats next test will be Georgia Southern on Tues, Mar. 4 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The action begins at 6 p.m. with live stats available through Game Tracker on the official site for B-CU athletics at www.BCCathletics.com.