May 1, 2011
Final Stats
Call Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Wildcats battled out a pitcher's duel through the early innings of Sunday's finale with Maryland Eastern Shore. Beginning in the sixth, the B-CU offense picked up steam while the Wildcat defense held UMES off in the 7-3 win to sweep the Hawks and remain perfect in MEAC play, clinching the MEAC regular season crown and the number one seed for the conference tournament
Matt Wright opened up the scoring for the Wildcats in game three, as the left hander hit a high drifting solo homer beyond the right field fence to take the 1-0 lead.
Brashad Johnson's fifth inning triple to right field set up designated hitter Anthony Stokes' groundout RBI to create a little more breathing room at 2-0, as Johnson crossed home on the play.
Much like the first games of the series, UMES played tough defense and held B-CU's hitters without any further runs through the fifth inning, but it's difficult to keep B-CU down for long.
In the sixth frame, Matt Wright reached with a base on balls, Ryan Durrence followed with a double slightly inside the left field line, and Emmanuel Castro made the most of the opportunity with a two RBI single to center field. A stand-up RBI double by DJ Leonard to the left side made it three straight hits with consecutive runs for B-CU to move on top 5-0.
Alejandro Sanchez crossed home plate to make it three straight innings with a B-CU run, as Wright put up another RBI on a single to left in the seventh.
Beginning to stir offensively as the game shifted to the later innings, the Hawks cut the lead to four in a bottom of seventh response of a two RBI single, moving the score to 6-2.
In the top of the ninth, the 'Cats put up some additional insurance with B. Johnson scoring again on a light hit in the left infield for an RBI single.
After Chris Anselmo made a solid showing to keep UMES off the board in the eighth, followed by Julio Morales, who entered in the ninth to shut the door on the Hawks. UMES batted in one on an RBI squeeze, wrapping up the game on a swinging strikeout in the 7-3 win.
Starter Patrick Goelz (6-3) had an outstanding day on the mound, throwing seven innings with 11 strikeouts, no earned runs, and just a single walk.
Leading the Wildcats at the plate, Matt Wright went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Brashad Johnson and Alejandro Sanchez also went 2-4 each on the day.
The Wildcats (29-19, 15-0 MEAC) have one key MEAC week remaining, with Delaware State (22-21, 10-4 MEAC) coming to town for next weekend's B-CU senior day. First, however, the Wildcats must go up against #4 Florida (34-10), Tuesday in Gainesville.
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