March 10, 2012

Box Score

Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail stambaughm@cookman.edu+ -

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The ball bounced the wrong way for Bethune-Cookman in Saturday's doubleheader with Florida A&M, with two final-inning ties turned losses snapping the Wildcats 46-game conference win streak, and handing B-CU its first conference series loss since 2005.

"Obviously it's very disappointing," said Head Coach Jason Beverlin. "It comes down to focusing on things we can control. You can't control so many things in the game of baseball, and it's so important for us to have a good mental approach every single day."

Game one of the doubleheader ran its course as a pitchers duel, as both teams scored early, but struggled to get key hits as the contest continued. B-CU reached the board first, opening the first frame with Alejandro Sanchez settting off the Wildcats with a double to shallow right field and then stealing third. David Lee made it count with an RBI single through the right side, and making a steal of his own, then crossing the plate on a Nick Johnson RBI single up the middle.

The Rattlers evened out the deficit over the first two innings with a run scored in each, locking in a 2-2 tie that would stand for six innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, a dribbling FAMU bunt straight down the right field line miraculously managed to stay fair, giving the Rattlers runners in scoring position. Right fielder Jarryd Reid put a single through the right side to bat in the final run and give FAMU a 3-2 victory and first win over B-CU since 2009.

The Wildcats held the Rattlers back most of the game, as FAMU collected 11 hits, and holding B-CU without a hit through the final four frames, with four in the complete game.

Despite the loss, starter Gabriel Hernandez pitched and outstanding eight innings, keeping his counts low by engineering numerous pitcher's counts, collecting three strikeouts.

"Gaby had two early runs," Beverlin said, "but he did a good job of making adjustments, getting the ball down and started mixing his pitches. He kept them off balance."

In game two of the day, the tightly contested battle on the mound continued in the early innings, remaining at zeroes until FAMU struck first, turning a B-CU jam into an RBI single, with another score on a passed ball.

Responding in urgency, the Wildcats scored in the next half, capitalizing on opportunities in the fourth, scoring on a FAMU error to draw the gap to one.

After starter Montana Durapau relieved the Wildcats of the biggest possible jam in the bottom half, escaping bases loaded without a run scored, B-CU made their biggest offensive strike of the series in the fifth.

B-CU opened with two straight runners on base, and Brandon Turner set the stage by tying the game with a long single to right center. Freshman catcher Lenny Martinez collected his first career RBI with a hard-hit grounder through the first base gap to earn the first B-CU lead of the game. Fellow frosh Jake Welch extended the lead to 4-2, beating the tag on an attempted double play and sending Turner home.

The Rattlers again tied up the game in the seventh and final frame.

Even with two swinging strikeouts for FAMU, the Rattlers managed to stock up the bases and again made the final inning go-ahead on a highly debated shot that flew dangerously close to the first base foul line, ruled fair and giving FAMU the RBI for the 3-2 win.

Starter Durapau pitched a solid 5.2 innings for the Wildcats, collecting 10 strikeouts with two earned runs and three walks.

"Montana had his breaking pitch working well and it really kept them off his fastball," Beverlin said. "I think his off-speed stuff really worked to keep them off balance."

Getting back to form, Sanchez displayed a solid offensive outing across both games, leading the team at 3-7 and one run scored.

"I thought Sanchez was locked in all day and hit the ball extremely well," Beverlin noted.

"Anybody can beat anybody in baseball, that's why it's such a great game," said Beverlin. "That's why it's so important to come ready to play, and hopefully we'll do that tomorrow."

The Wildcats (5-9, 0-2 MEAC) return to action early tomorrow afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field, wrapping up the series with the Rattlers (3-12, 2-0 MEAC), with the first pitch coming out at 1:00 p.m.

###