Feb. 26, 2012
Final Stats
Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail stambaughm@cookman.edu -
TAMPA, Fla. – The Wildcats moved to 4-3 on the year with their second series win of the year, defeating South Florida, 2-0, at USF Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon. B-CU held the Bulls to five hits in the first shutout of the season, riding the outstanding B-CU pitching on the day.
“It's big anytime when you're over .500 on the road. That's what you're striving for, then to take care of business at home,” said Head Coach Jason Beverlin, now turning his attention to the home opener next week.
Rayan Gonzalez threw seven innings to set the tone for B-CU, with no runs allowed, collecting seven strikeouts, while giving up just three hits and earning his second win of the year.
“He's done an excellent job,” said Beverlin of Gonzalez, “and I'm very proud of the way he's stayed within himself and kept the ball down in the first two games he's pitched.”
Brashad Johnson led off the Wildcats' scoring with an RBI single, fired back at the pitcher's knees to bat in Alejandro Sanchez and take a 1-0 lead, which would stand until the top of the seventh.
B-CU's defense took care of the lead in one of the best performances of the early season, highlighted by Sanchez' amazing backhanded snag for a double play from the ground. Josh Johnson also made the big grab in the final inning to maintain B-CU's shutout and keep the Wildcats going.
In the top of the seventh, Josh Johnson broke the gridlock with an RBI double to deep outside left field, pushing Nick Johnson across the plate, extending the lead to 2-0.
Relieving Gonzalez in the bottom of the eighth, Jordan Dailey kept USF at bay, earning his second save of 2012. In two innings pitched, Dailey only allowed two hits, and picked up two strikeouts, including working the outside of the plate to collect a swinging strikeout on the final out of the day.
Brashad Johnson topped the Wildcats offensively, collecting 3 of B-CU's 9 hits in 4 at-bats, moving to 10 straight games with a hit. Johnson also logged an RBI to take the initial lead. Third baseman Nick Johnson was 2-4 on the day, while Josh Johnson was 1-5 with the final RBI.
“I think the big thing is to continue to focus every pitch try and clean up some things defensively,” Beverlin noted. “We're better the last two games, but still definitely some room for improvement.”
The Wildcats (4-3) make their first appearance at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday for the 2012 home opener. Bethune-Cookman takes on #26 Stetson, who spent all X of their games so far at home, contrary to the Wildcats, who opened with seven on the road. First pitch vs. the Hatters will be at 6:00 p.m.
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