March 14, 2012
Box Score
Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After briefly falling behind Harvard (1-8) early, Bethune-Cookman (8-9) quickly fired back, and carried two big innings to a nine-run win in game two of the series. Eight Wildcat batters combined for a season-high 15 hits to extend the series lead to 2-0.
“Just an overall great victory,” Head Coach Jason Beverlin said after the 11-2 win over Harvard.
The Crimson reached the board first in the second, taking advantage of the lone B-CU error on the night, followed up by an RBI single to left center. However, center fielder Brandon Turner made the throw home to throw out the second runner at the plate; a play that could easily be seen as a turning point.
The Wildcats didn't let the lead simmer for long, carefully waiting for the right pitches to load the bases in the bottom half, collecting two singles and a walk to set up a Carlos Delgado base on balls RBI. Jordan Taylor kept the bases full with an RBI base hit, splitting the left side gap defenders, and evening the score. Next up, Turner doubled up the Crimson with a two-RBI double just inside first base, extending the lead to 4-2.
“It let everybody relax and play the game,” Beverlin said of the second-inning swing. “Not so tense; I think that really helped our offense get going, and the swings we had tonight were much better.”
Juan Pizarro's RBI in the third gave the Wildcats a little more breathing room, as Harvard held for the next two frames, but couldn't hold B-CU down for long.
A Harvard wild pitch put runners in scoring position in the sixth, and another set off a big inning, as Pizarro scored. Brashad Johnson leveled some more damage with a two-RBI shot, beating out the throw and advancing on a Harvard error. Anthony Stokes kicked the door completely open for the 'Cats with a two-RBI single to right center.
“That's definitely what we've been talking about as a team,” Beverlin noted in reference to the biggest inning of the night. “When we get up, we can't get too happy with ourselves and get complacent. It's important to continue trying to separate and tack on runs. That was the difference tonight.”
In the seventh, Alejandro Sanchez put the cherry on top with an RBI single through the right side, giving Carlos Delgado the opportunity to round third and coast in for the final run, as B-CU settled into an 11-2 victory and 2-0 lead in the series.
With no earned runs surrendered, the Wildcat pitching staff did an outstanding job, as starter Jairo Acevedo (1-0) collected the win after four innings, no walks, and three strikeouts. In the fifth, he made the position switch with Pizarro, who threw four more with three strikeouts and one walk, setting up for Diego Delgado to close the door on Harvard in the ninth.
“All three of our pitchers did a great job,” Beverlin said, “and only having to use three guys in this game, once again, is going to be big tomorrow.”
Acevedo wasn't just a leader on the mound; he also topped the 'Cats at the plate, hitting 3-4, scoring once. Brashad Johnson (3-5) paced a group of Wildcats with two RBI on the night, including Turner (2-4) and Stokes (2-4), serving up the greater part of B-CU's season best 10 RBI and 11 runs.
“We were still patient at the plate, like last night,” said Beverlin, “but we were able to go backside when we needed to.”
Currently on a three game win streak, the Wildcats return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Thursday to wrap the series, looking for their first sweep of the year. Showing determination and playing focused baseball will need to be at the heart of that endeavor for B-CU. The first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
“It's one game at a time, one pitch at a time,” Beverlin concluded. “We can't get too high from these two wins. They did a good job of not getting too low from last weekend. Playing every single day, you've got to stay in the middle. I think tomorrow we'll have a good mindset, and go out to finish the series strong.”
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