AUBURN, Ala. – The Wildcats got an early jump on the 25th ranked Auburn Tigers, Wednesday afternoon at Plainsman Park, leading to the win in the rematch which split the series. It was a big win for the Wildcats as they played with intensity and emotion and played a complete game in all facets of the game for the 5-2 win on the road, over a ranked opponent.
“The way we finished the game yesterday was very encouraging,” said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. “We piggybacked on the performance from the end of yesterday's game.”
The Wildcats got on it early with new addition to the lineup freshman Paul Biocic (second base) collecting B-CU's first hit in his first start, with a hard-hit single to center field. Two batters later, a Ryan Durrence double sent him across the plate for the Wildcats' first run. Next up, Peter O'Brien notched a double of his own, batting in Durrence, giving B-CU the early 2-0 lead.
“If you saw the game tonight, you saw the emotion out there, especially after that first run,” Melendez noted. “We knew it was going to be a good day when PJ [Biocic] crossed home plate and how excited he was about scoring. In college baseball, you have to play with that kind of emotion.”
With great pitching to start the game from freshman LHP Roman Lancara, got the job done too, with only five hits and no runs in the final four frames. Rivera finished with 5 strikeouts and Lancara with 3.
“I thought Bryan [Rivera] was really good,” said Melendez. “He threw all his pitches for strikes, and you've got to give him a lot of credit. And the relievers came in and did an outstanding job.”
The Wildcats would add another in the third inning as O'Brien again sent a shot to the outfield and Leonard rounded third from second, getting to the plate simultaneously with the throw, knocking the ball loose on the tag attempt, for the score.
B-CU extended the lead late in the game, adding two more runs in the sixth as a Emmanuel Castro on a single up the middle, and Biocic picked up an RBI, sending Johnson home to make it a 5-2 game.
“Against good teams you have to be able to capitalize on your opportunities and we certainly didn't do that,” Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said.
Offensively, the Wildcats showed that they are getting back on track as B-CU collected 11 hits to push past Auburn, led by four hitters that each notched two hits and an RBI. Johnson went 2-4 with a run and an RBI, while Biocic, Durrence, and O'Brien went 2-5 with an RBI each.
“I think it was about the at-bats that we had today,” commented Melendez on the key to the win. “We really put some good swings and good innings together. We got a spark from PJ Biocic, he was tremendous defensively and offensively and that carried our team to victory tonight.”
The Wildcats get an opportunity to come off the road, but won't retire from action for long, as they hit the diamond again Friday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, facing off with Boston College to open the B-CU Invitational Tournament.
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