April 12, 2008

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Ormond Beach, Fla. - Marvelous pitching was the story of the day on Saturday as Bethune-Cookman University took both games of a MEAC baseball doubleheader against Norfolk State University, 10-1 & 3-0 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.

The first game started early for the Wildcats of B-CU (21-13, 8-0 MEAC) as they plated three runs in the bottom of the second to open the game up.

The first five (5) Wildcats reached base safely off NSU starting pitcher Joey Seal, started by first baseman Osvaldo Torres hit to straight center. That was followed by a bunt single from Neal Jones, and a single to load the bases from freshman Emmanuel Castro. Catcher Drew Clark was back in the lineup for the first time in six games and delivered in his first at-bat with a two-run single to center field ... followed by an error charged to the NSU (13-12, 3-5 MEAC) outfield. Castro would score from third to make it 3-0 in favor of B-CU on a double play turned by the Spartans on a Mark Brooks ground-out.

Brooks left the game immediately following that play with an in undisclosed injury.

B-CU got to Seal again in the home-half of the third for three more runs to all but secure the win.

Neal Jones for a RBI single through the right side to score Lozada. Torres would score on the next play as Jones stole second and advanced on a throwing error by the NSU catcher trying to catch Jones at second base. Neal Jones would later score courtesy a sacrifice fly from Castro.

The Wildcats led 6-0 after three innings of play.

B-CU scored again in the fourth with a solo homerun from Jose Ortiz--the third of his career and first since 2006. It was also Ortiz's first homerun in MEAC play.

The `Cats plated two more runs in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from back-up second baseman Patrick Jones single to score Castro. B-CU then led 9-0 after six innings of play.

The Spartans got their lone run of the day in the top of the seventh when they touched B-CU starting pitcher Hiram Burgos for an unearned run as Brandon Hairston reached on an error and later scored with a double from third baseman Chris Joyce to cut the lead at 9-1. But B-CU scored one more run in the seventh themselves to make the final, 10-1.

Freshman hurler Joseph Munoz cleaned things up the last two innings for the Wildcats striking out one batter.

The win went to Hiram Burgos who was nothing short of amazing as he spread out three hits and one (1) unearned run in seven innings on the hill. He would walk zero (0) batters and fan eight in the process of running his record out to 5-1. Burgos' also made his career record against MEAC opponents to 8-0 overall ... and 3-0 this year. The loss went to NSU's Seal who dropped to 4-3 as he went six frames on the hill for the Spartans allowing 10 hits and nine runs (eight earned) with five strikeouts.

The Spartans were led at the plate by three batters with one hit each, mainly the play of Joyce who was 1-for-3 with a RBI. B-CU was led by three batters with multiple hits, especially the play of Neal Jones who was 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.

In the second game of the day's doubleheader affair, Joseph "Gio" Gautier returned to the mound as his old self after back-to-back unusually bad outings--but never suffering a loss. Gautier was all but untouchable as he completed his second game of the year in phenomenal fashion.

With runs hard to come by from both teams as pitching was a premium, B-CU struck for two critical runs in the bottom of the second inning off NSU starter Quinn Bright.

Drew Clark started off the inning with a single, followed by a bunt single from Patrick Jones--both runners advancing on the play with an error charged to the Spartans' infield. Clark, however, would score on the play to put the `Cats up, 1-0. Ortiz doubled to right center to plate Patrick Jones for the 2-0 lead in favor of the Maroon and Gold.

B-CU got the last run of the game in the sixth with a RBI single from Aaron Patterson that allowed Clark to score once again, putting the Wildcats at the final of 3-0.

The loss went to the Spartans' Bright who pitched well for the Green and Gold as he went the entire way on the mound giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits. He walked one batter and struck-out four more. B-CU's Gautier collected the win to move his record up to 3-1 on the campaign, also going the entire seven innings in the nightcap, allowing five hits and striking out six batters.

NSU was led at the plate by five batters with a hit each, respectively. John Lynch was 1-for-2 for the Spartans, while teammate Joyce was 1-for-3 to conclude the day with two hits.

B-CU was led by three players with multiple hits, including catcher Drew Clark who was 2-for-2 at the dish with two runs scored. Also doing damage was Jose Ortiz with a 2-for-4 showing and one RBI.

The two teams will hook-up again tomorrow at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach for the final game of the three-game series beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available through Game Tracker at www.BCCathletics.com.