April 27, 2008

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University completed a three-game series sweep of conference foe University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday afternoon winning the contest 23-3 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Once again it was great pitching and extremely powerful hitting that helped B-CU (28-17, 15-0 MEAC) to the win on Sunday. B-CU starting pitcher Felix Machado was almost untouchable in four quick innings on the hill. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two hits and struck-out two batters in the win.

B-CU was celebrating Senior Appreciation Day today for five group of young men that have given their all for the Wildcats this season and beyond. B-CVU said "Good Bye" to José Lozada, Phil Enright, Neal Jones, Darrin Young and Osvaldo Torres with a big statement win in the league.

Osvaldo Torres was a blistering 3-for-4 on the day at the plate as the senior first baseman blasted two (2) homeruns to up his total to eight on the year. Right behind him was junior transfer Alejandro Jimenez in the MEAC Championship game two years ago (2006) against ... Maryland Eastern Shore. For Patterson, it was his first homer of the season.

Already leading 7-0 after two innings away, B-CU scored their largest amount of runs in an innings in more than three years with 12 runs in the third off UMES (5-39, 4-12 MEAC) starting pitcher Russell Deutschmann.

The big inning was highlighted by homeruns from Torres and Patterson. That big inning moved B-CU's lead out to 19-0.

The `Cats added four runs in the fifth inning to increase the lead. Second baseman Cameron McGriff collected a two-run scoring single to centerfield to plate Torres and Jorge Velez.

UMES jumped on the board in the sixth frame as relief pitcher Darrin Young allowed three runs on two hits in the frame. The Hawks centerfielder Phil Vaughn kicked off the inning with a triple to right and came around to score via Jorge Pichardo's single to second base. Deutschmann scored Pat Hercinger later in the inning with a sacrifice fly.

The win went to Machado who evened his record for the year at 3-3. The loss was given to Deutschmann who dropped to 0-2 with 19 runs allowed (four earned) and 13 hits with six walks.

UMES was led at the plate by the play of Pichardo and Deutschmann who each had a hit and RBI. B-CU used the bat of Torres, Lozada and junior right fielder Patrick Jones as each had three hits on the day.

The `Cats now take to the road from here on out as they get ready for one of the most important weeks in recent history. B-CU travels to Jacksonville on Tuesday, Apr. 29 before turning right back around and heading to USF on Wednesday. But it's next weekend's conference series finale at Delaware State that is sure to have the eyes of the MEAC and Black College Baseball watching.

Live stats for all games will be available through Game Tracker at www.BCCathletics.com.