April 30, 2011

Game One Final Stats | Game Two Final Stats

Call Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats came through with two gritty victories to open the series with Maryland Eastern Shore.. The Wildcats grabbed an early lead in game one, but four UMES runs in the sixth made it a one-run game. B-CU held on, blanking the Hawks in the final three innings to earn the 5-4 win. In game two, the margin was even tighter, featuring two ties in a game that truly came down to the final play in the 3-2 Wildcat win.

"I thought we did what he had to do," said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez of the day's games. "I was very happy with how we finished the games. We found a way to pull it out and win the games."

GAME ONE

In game one, the Wildcats early moves on offense kept the Wildcats on top, as they fought off a UMES comeback with solid pitching from the bullpen and defense.

The Wildcats moved on top early, as Ryan Durrence came home on a Brashad Johnson RBI single to center field in the second inning to go up by one.

In the third, Peter O'Brien put another on the board on a hit and run play with an RBI single through the left side. O'Brien beat out a rundown between first and second as he made way for Emmanuel Castro to make the successful dash for home on the steal, and take a 3-0 lead.

One inning later, Castro put in his own RBI, batting in Sanchez to make it 4-0 with a single through the left side. DJ Leonard picked up an RBI in the fifth with a hard-hit line drive at the short stop, sending Matt Wright wheeling around third to score and make it 5-0.

In the sixth inning, the Hawks started to make a little offensive movement, taking advantage of an error for a run, in the midst of five straight batters to reach base. A two-run triple brought it in a little close for comfort, making it a 5-4 lead to wrap up the sixth.

In the first full game between the schools since the hiring of UMES Head Coach Will Gardner, five years ago, the Wildcats defense and bullpen took care of business and shut down the Hawks in the final three innings, preserving the 5-4 victory to remain perfect in MEAC play.

Right-Handed starter, Gabriel Hernandez (5-0) picked up the win with six strikeouts in six innings on the mound. The Bad Body Bullpen took care of the game, with Jordan Dailey relieving in the seventh to earn his seventh save on four strikeouts in three innings pitched. In the crucial bottom of the ninth, Dailey picked up two of his strikeouts and a pop-up to end it.

At the plate, Emmanuel Castro led B-CU with 2-4 hitting, one RBI, and one run scored on stealing home.

GAME TWO

The second game was a tense outing for the Wildcats, coming down to the very last play, as B-CU clung to a one-run lead in the seventh and final inning after overcoming two ties at the hands of the Hawks.

In just the second inning of game two, DJ Leonard put the Wildcats on the board, reaching on a wild pitch call and then making the move across home plate on an error in the UMES outfield during a Matt Wright single.

Much like the first outing, the Hawks hung around, knotting it up in the bottom of the third with an RBI through the left side.

The Wildcats reclaimed the lead on a Ryan Durrence sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the fourth, with B-CU going back on top 2-1.

The Pendulum swung back to even as UMES tied it up once again at 2-2 on an error in the fifth inning.

Peter O'Brien singled to shortstop for an RBI, beating the throw and sending pinch runner Josh Johnson across the plate to put B-CU up 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Johnson's run proved to be the most crucial of the game.

As a seagull flock flew in circles around the field, the Wildcats sought to separate themselves in the top of the seventh and final frame, but the UMES defense proved strong. After holding the Wildcats without an insurance run, the Hawks put two runners on, with only one out in the bottom of the seventh.

With the tie run in scoring position, Julio Morales took over on the mound, inducing a fly-out to right field, where David Lee settled in for the catch and made a big-league throw from right to meet O'Brien dead-on for the tag at the plate, preserving the 3-2 win.

"That's why he's there," said Melendez of Lee, "he's one of our best outfielders. I'm very glad that he had a chance to showcase what he's capable of and why he's in there."

On the mound, freshman Julio Morales picked up his first save of the year, facing just one, but the most crucial, batter in the game.

Peter O'Brien at 1-3 with an RBI as well. Paul Biocic went 2-2 as B-CU's lone multi-hit batter.

The wins on Saturday extended the Wildcats' impressive winning streak over MEAC opponents to 42 games, while also taking B-CU to 28-19 on the year with a 14-0 MEAC count.

B-CU returns to action on Sunday, looking to complete the sweep and remain perfect in MEAC play with the final game against Maryland Eastern Shore (8-34, 7-10 MEAC) in Princess Anne.

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