March 4, 2009
Updated B-CU 10-Game Stats/Scores (5-5)
Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -
Pitching – Defense Leads B-CU To 4-1 Win Over Mercer
Daytona, Beach, Fla.
Joseph Munoz pitched seven innings of four-hit ball allowing one run and striking out five in a 4-1 win over Mercer Tuesday. Stellar defensive plays also keyed the B-CU win with the Wildcats upping their season record to 5-5.
“We turned the tables, one night from not playing well (Tuesday, 9-2 loss to Mercer) to doing everything well – with pitching, defense, moving the runners up, timely hitting,” said B-CU Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. “It was really good to see how we could bounce back from an awful game last night to a game like today playing outstanding baseball. Munoz threw three pitches for strikes and he was strong into the seventh inning. He pitched a great game for us.”
Mercer (4-4) scored its run in the first inning on a double and a single to take a 1-0 lead. Then Munoz settled in and retired 15 of the next 18 batters including four innings of hitless pitching in the next six frames.
RBI singles by Justin Hoyte and C. J. Lauriello in the second and third innings gave B-CU a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The Wildcats scored two more runs in the seventh inning on two Mercer errors to go ahead 4-1. B-CU out-hit the Bears 9-5 with Jose Ortiz and Alejandro Sanchez contributing two hits each to lead the offense.
Relievers Concepcion Guzman and Justin Dahl pitched the final two innings and Dahl earned his second save of the year with 1.1 innings pitched, striking out one.
“The defense was outstanding and you can't say enough about our defense. The diving plays by (Emmanuel) Castro and (Alejandro) Sanchez to save hits and some runs and then the double play and great catch, great throw by Justin (Hotye) in the eight inning – that is what wins ball games. It is a team effort and that is what we have been preaching. You can't have any heroes in this game. Today was a good example of that. We put the bunt down when it mattered and that is the reason we won today.” said Melendez.
FIRST-EVER B-CU BASEBALL TOURNAMENT FRI-SUN AT JACKIE ROBINSON
The Wildcats next host the inaugural Wildcat Baseball Invitational this weekend featuring four teams – B-CU, Xaxier (Ohio), Michigan State, and Georgia State.
B-CU plays Xavier Friday night at 7 p.m., and will host Michigan State 7 p.m. Saturday night and 12 noon Sunday. And the Wildcats will also play Georgia State, 4 p.m. Sunday following the MSU game. The other teams will play each other - 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. games - both Friday and Saturday at the Ballpark
“We have always wanted to host a tournament and we have some good teams coming in here to play this weekend. It is a lot of work for us and everybody at the Cubs and there will be 8 games total and long days and nights – but some great baseball to watch and see this weekend. I am excited the weekend is here,” said Coach Melendez of his first tournament hosting in his 10th year as head coach at B-CU.
