March 8, 2008

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman dropped the opening game, 9-8 in 10 innings before taking the nightcap, 3-0 in a baseball doubleheader against Illinois State on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Illinois State (4-4) used steady hitting from shortstop Kevin Tokarski to kick-start the 10th inning in the day's opening game to leadoff the frame. Tokarski made his way to third base after a steal, and then an error charged to the B-CU infield moments later. Bethune-Cookman (6-4) had four errors in the opening game--a rarity for a Mervyl Melendez coached team.

ISU's Ronnie Calvird laid down a squeeze bunt to plate Tokarski and break the tie at, 9-8.

The two teams traded leads back-and-forth for most of the day.

After ISU scored three runs in the top-half of the second inning aided by a Mike Stalowy two-run scoring triple to right, the visiting Redbirds found themselves locked in a struggle as B-CU tied the game at 4-4 in the home-half of the third frame with three (3) runs of their own. Highlighting the inning for the Wildcats was first baseman Osvaldo Torres' two-run homer to right center.

The Wildcats took an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning when senior José Lozada registered his first homerun of the season with a solo shot to right field. ISU countered in the eighth with a Kevin Dubler double to center scored Tokarski to even the game at 8-8.

The win went to the Redbirds Eric Theisen out of the bullpen as he went 1.2 frames on the mound with two strikeouts. He evened his record at 1-1 on the year. Meanwhile, the loss went to Phil Enright for B-CU who dropped to 0-1 on the year with 2.1 innings on the hill with an unearned run being the game-winner.

Wildcats starter Hiram Burgos had his worst outing of the young season on the day with 5.1 innings on the bump allowing a career-high seven runs (six earned) and walking four batters.

At the plate, ISU was led by Tokarski with a 2-for-4 outing as well as teammate Kyle Cherney with a mirror image of 2-for-4 at the dish. B-CU was aided by the play of Justin Hoyte who went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.

Hoyte, playing in place of José Ortiz who was suspended for a violation of team rules in the first game, looked brilliant in the outfield despite a horrific wind carrying between 20-25 mph all afternoon. Also playing well for the `Cats was Torres with a blistering 3-for-5 showing at the plate and two RBI. Lozada added here RBI on two hits with two runs scored as well.

In the nightcap affair, it was all about the efforts of Joseph "Gio" Gautier on the hill for Bethune-Cookman. The junior left-hander looked good against UCLA last weekend, but he looked BRILLIANT today against the Redbirds out of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Gautier went a complete nine innings on the mound for the Wildcats in a 3-0 shutout. He also amassed a career-high 11 strikeouts on the day. His counterpart from ISU--Ryan Copeland, was equally impressive until he ran into trouble in the sixth inning.

With a true pitcher's duel taking place, Gautier actually went 5.1 innings on the mound without surrendering a single hit to start the game.

The Wildcats struck on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning as Osvaldo Torres' hard-hit ball to short was booted by ISU's Tokarski, allowing B-CU junior Patrick Jones to score the game's opening run from second base.

B-CU led 1-0 after six innings of play.

The `Cats struck again in the seventh inning as a two-out rally was actually in favor of Bethune-Cookman this time--instead of the vice versa. B-CU second baseman Mark Brooks collected his first homerun of the year with an inside-the-park blast to center field that allowed the speedster from Yokusaka, Japan to steam his speedy self around the bases. He plated Neal Jones on the play as well.

Jones reached earlier in the inning with his only hit of the game with a laser shot to short.

The win went to Gautier to bump his record for the year to 1-1, and allow him to collect the first complete-game shutout at home since he did it last year in an 8-0 victory over Savannah State University. Gautier allowed just three hits and one walk to go along with his 11 strikeouts on the mound.

The loss was tacked onto the record of ISU's Ryan Copeland who fell for the first time this year to fall to 2-1.

Mike Stalowy was 2-for-3 at the dish for the Redbirds, and teammate Ronnie Calvird collected the only other hit for the visitors from Normal, Ill.

B-CU was led by Brooks with a 2-for-4 game with two RBI and a score.

The two teams will meet back tomorrow to settle the series with the rubber game at 1 p.m. back at Jackie Robinson Ballpark beginning at 1 p.m. For live stats provided by Game Tracker, please visit the B-CU athletic website at www.BCCathletics.com.