April 26, 2008

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University used a powerful hitting performance and superb pitching to surpass the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a MEAC baseball doubleheader held at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla. The `Cats won the first game 19-0, while coming back to take the nightcap 11-3.

Bethune-Cookman (27-17, 14-0 MEAC) took over early in the first game with 10 runs in the opening inning off UMES starting pitcher Elliott Arrington. Arrington threw 60 pitches for the Hawks (5-38, 4-11 MEAC) and gave up 10 earned runs on four hits with three walks issued in just two-thirds of an inning. The Maroon and Gold express appropriately took advantage.

After Neal Jones scored Mark Brooks from third on an RBI sacrifice, senior shortstop José Lozada became the first B-CU player in recent years to steal home base for a 2-0 B-CU advantage. The Wildcats pushed their advantage out further with a Patrick Jones three-run double to straight away center field. On Lozada's next plate appearance in the inning, he posted a three-run homerun inside the park to put the `Cats up on top, 10-0.

UMES reliever Jervonta' Wright took over for the Hawks to complete the first frame.

Brooks pushed the lead out farther in the third with a RBI triple to plate Patrick Jones. First baseman Osvaldo Torres ledoff the next inning with his sixth homerun of the year to push the lead out to 12-0 in favor of the Wildcats.

In the fifth inning, Brooks scored again on a wild pitch from UMES' Wright, while freshman third baseman Emmanuel Castro blasted his fifth homer of the year with a two-run shot to left field. The game was halted after seven innings with the run-rule in effect and the score standing at 19-0.

The win went to B-CU starter Hiram Burgos who threw five shutout innings on the mound while allowing just one (1) hit and striking out a season-high nine batters. The win improved his record to 7-1 on the year. Arles Rivera went to strong innings on the mound for the Wildcats in relief efforts as he allowed one hit and struck-out two batters.

The loss went to UMES' Arrington who fell to 1-5 on the campaign for the Hawks.

In the second game, the score got out of hand early, but the Wildcats were unable to find a hit. UMES hurler Carl Huber was unable to find the zone early as he walked nine batters in the first two innings to allow seven runs to cross for the Maroon and Gold. Added an error and a few wild pitches, and B-CU led 7-0 right off the bat.

Brooks collected a RBI sacrifice fly in the third to plate Drew Clark. That put the `Cats, 8-0.

Neal Jones and Torres to score on the play, stretching the B-CU lead out to 11-0.

UMES collected their runs in the fifth with leadoff hitter Phil Vaughn posted a sacrifice fly to score John Goray. The other run scored with a Matt Witte RBI single to plate Russel Deutschmann.

The win went to Joseph Gautier improved his record to 5-1. Gautier went five innings on the hill allowing two runs on three hits with eight (8) strikeouts. Relievers Roman Lancara and Andrew Tilka went two innings combined in relief with just one earned run allowed by Tilka in the seventh.

The loss went to Huber who dropped to 1-7.

UMES was led in the game by Deutschmann and Witte with two hits each. B-CU was led offensively by four players with a hit each, including Castro with three RBI and pinch hitter Jonathan Vargas with a hit.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. back at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Live stats will be available through Game Tracker at www.BCCathletics.com.