TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Every good thing must come to an end; such was the outcome for the Wildcats in Saturday's Regional elimination game against Central Florida at Dick Howser Stadium. Bethune-Cookman rallied past a three-run deficit to take the lead in the sixth inning. The Knights responded with scores through the final three innings, along with a 3 hour and 41 minute lightning delay, to defeat the Wildcats 16-5 and conclude B-CU's run in the NCAA Tournament
“The magic number seven; seven is usually the inning that we usually can't get anybody out,” said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez, “and that turned out to be the big inning for UCF. We couldn't locate and couldn't throw the pitches we needed to…”
In this Regional game, the Knights were the first to put a notch on the scoreboard, using a ground ball that hopped over the (third) baseman's head for an RBI single early in the first frame The 'Cats were quick to adjust and hold UCF scoreless for the next four innings.
Starter Rayan Gonzalez recorded eight strikeouts and allowed five (eight total) hits in the four scoreless innings (six total) until the Knights' first baseman, Johnathan Griffith, bounced a home run off the left field scoreboard to extend the lead to three runs in the top of the sixth.
“I just went out there with all I had,” said Gonzalez. “The sixth inning I began to get a little tired but it was nothing that I couldn't handle. I think it was a good outing, my changeup and slider were falling for me and I was able to throw them pretty successfully.”
Heading to the bottom half, the Wildcats' first score was not as planned, but set the stage for B-CU to make a move. UCF starter Danny Winkler walked Emmanuel Castro on a bases loaded situation for the RBI as Peter O'Brien crossed the plate. Facing a 2-2 count with two outs and loaded bases, B-CU shortstop Ryan Durrence and Matt Wright to tie up the score at three-all.
Though the Knights felt it was time for a change on the mound, the Cats weren't deterred, as DJ Leonard hit an RBI single over the shortstop's head to bring Castro home and claim the first Wildcat lead of the game heading to the seventh frame.
As B-CU went to the bullpen in the seventh, the Wildcats had problems containing a UCF scoring string; the Knights put up big runs in the final three frames, accounting for 13 runs. Breaking up the UCF drive, the teams endured a three hour and 41 minute game delay for lightning during the top of the eighth.
Alejandro Sanchez worked to get some back for B-CU, taking one yard in the bottom of the seventh to narrow the gap slightly, demonstrating the fight under adversity that Melendez' teams are known for nationally.
“One thing we have is heart,” said Melendez. “We're not the typical team that is going to give up, we have adversity and even though we were down 14-5 going into the rain delay we still felt we could score runs but it didn't work out. You have to give UCF a lot of credit; their pitchers who came in relief did an outstanding job.”
Emmanuel Castro also had an RBI.
The game wrapped with UCF topping the Wildcats 16-5.
The loss concludes the Wildcats run in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, finishing the year with a record of 36-25, the most wins since 2008.
“Two games do not write the whole story of the season. We enjoyed a good season. The guys' accomplishments are great for Bethune-Cookman University, the baseball program, and their families; everyone must be proud of what they have accomplished. As a team, and baseball players, we're pretty good. They're absolutely better people than they are baseball players,” Melendez concluded.
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