JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Wildcats came away from the road rematch with Jacksonville with a hard-fought battle of a game, but a tough loss in the final inning. B-CU broke out in front twice with big plays, but JU put up the extra run in the final frame to take the win, 7-6.
The B-CU offense scored throughout the game with consistency, starting with Ryan Durrence, who put the 'Cats on the board early with an RBI double to deep left center, sending Matt Wright home for the initial run in the first. The 'Cats followed up in the bottom half with a big play, as Nick Johnson snagged a high chopper at first and ran down the runner with Alejandro Sanchez' assistance, while keeping the lead runner locked at third for no runs, setting the tone defensively for the Wildcats
Early in the fourth, DJ Leonard put a double to the wall, but quickly advanced to third as the pitcher overthrew a pickoff attempt, setting up N. Johnson for an RBI single to shallow left field.
Matt Wright led off the fifth with a solid double to left center, Peter O'Brien followed up with a single through the left side to put runners at the corners, giving B-CU the chance for a double steal opportunity, on which Wright scored to extend the lead to three.
The Wildcats held JU to no runs through the first four, but in the bottom of the fifth, the Dolphins made up some ground, scoring two runs on a hard shot slipped through the right side with two outs, and followed it up with two RBI singles first to tie it and then move ahead one run.
Wright put a double back out to the same left center location to lead off the seventh, later scoring from third with his speed on a passed ball to knot up the game.
Coming in as a pinch hitter with runners at the corners and two outs in the eighth, Paul Biocic converted on a shot to shallow left field with a 2-2 count for a two RBI double, putting the 'Cats back on top by two runs late.
JU countered with a line drive RBI single to left center to trim the Wildcat lead and then tie it up on the final out of the eighth inning.
Unable to move ahead in the top of the ninth, the Wildcats went to the closing pitchers to extend the game, but JU was able to pick up the final run to claim the win, 7-6, in the bottom of the ninth.
“We did not command the zone when we needed to, it's as simple as that”, said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. “Poor execution of pitching is where we lost this game.”
Offensively, Matt Wright and DJ Leonard each went 2-4. In one at bat, Paul Biocic hit big with two RBI that gave the Wildcats the opportunity for the win.
Bethune-Cookman (32-21) wraps up the regular season tomorrow in Orlando as they travel to rematch with Central Florida (29-19) at 6:30 p.m.
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