April 17, 2011

Box Score

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman spent most of Sunday's brisk 86-minute encounter with North Carolina Central waiting for a moment that just wouldn't come, but the Wildcats didn't waste their time waiting as they dispatched the Eagles 2-1 at Sunnyland Park.

Allison Garcia kept things under control and the Wildcats (22-22) manufactured a pair of early runs en route to their seventh consecutive victory.

After scoring 20 runs on Saturday, the big breakthrough hit eluded B-CU in the final game of the series as most of the Wildcats' best shots went straight to an Eagle defender. The Wildcats stranded nine base runners.

"I thought we did have some very good at bats today," said B-CU coach Chris Cochran. "In that aspect, it was good. NCCU played well here today." Garcia's bid for a shutout ended with a two-out infield error in the seventh, but the senior finished the day scattering five hits, striking out four and registering four putouts - one that resulted in a double play.

"Allie gave us a really good performance today," Cochran said. "She continues to do her pitching-wise and defensively. She always helps us out fielding her position.

B-CU's runs came in the first when Ashton Hinds scored on Cesley Tafoya's sacrifice fly and in the third when Garcia scored on Sabrina Ferguson's two-out infield single.

Simone Ceasar went 3-3 for B-CU, which has now outscored opponents 47-11 to reach .500 and match the longest winning stretch in the Cochran era. Does Cochran have any thoughts on the streak?

"No," she said. "We have a non-conference game with Jacksonville and half of our conference games remaining, so that's where my attention is."

B-CU returns to action April 27 against Jacksonville at home.