April 25, 2012

Box Score

Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail

DeLAND, Fla. – The Wildcats pushed it to the final at-bat in working to overcome early miscues, Tuesday night versus Stetson at Melching Field, but fell short in the late-game rally against the Hatters. Driven by Brashad Johnson's four RBI, B-CU came storming back late in the outing, but ultimately fell to Stetson 9-8.

“We didn't come up with the hits that we needed when it mattered the most,” Head Coach Jason Beverlin said. “It was the little things that really cost us that game. It's too bad because we did fight until the end and clawed our way back into the game.”

After opening the initial frame with a pair of strikeouts, starter Ali Simpson's (1-1) perfect ERA was busted, as Stetson scored in the second on a wild pitch, opening the gates for a seven-run frame for the Hatters, capped by a three-run single to the center field warning track for third baseman Ben Carhart.

After sharing the burden with Simpson in the second, reliever Scott Garner put the clamps to the Hatters, holding Stetson to three hits with no runs for four innings.

With the Hatters on hold, the Wildcats began to generate some offense, converting three straight singles through the left side gap for a score as B. Johnson's RBI single to shallow left field batted in Brandon Turner.

After going scoreless through three, the 'Cats opened freed the bats again in the seventh, led off by an Alejandro Sanchez single. A drifting RBI single to right by Jairo Acevedo kept the order alive to set up for B. Johnson's two-run single through the interior into left center, dropping the deficit to three.

Stetson rebuilt the gap a little with a sacrifice fly and a runner claiming home plate to beat out a rundown between first and second for the final out of the seventh.

In familiar fashion, the Wildcats came on strong as crunch-time began to set in, showing patience in their approaches to reach base on balls against errant throws from the mound, facing the fourth and then fifth Stetson relief pitchers. With the bases loaded on walks, Turner fired a single right back at the pitcher, who deflected it into the dirt, allowing Nick Johnson to score.

Acevedo reached on a receiving error on the throw at first, batting in two runs and advancing to second as the ball went into the Stetson dugout. B. Johnson picked up his fourth and final RBI with a single to left. Trailing by one on the play, Acevedo was sent home for the tie, but the throw was right on target to barely put the tag on and end the inning with Stetson leading 9-8.

“I think you have to,” Beverlin said of sending the tie run ahead, “That's the right play, you've got to stay aggressive. [Left fielder Kyle Zech] made a good throw, it was right there, and the catcher blocked the plate enough.”

Though closer Jordan Dailey retired three straight Hatters to set the stage, B-CU couldn't keep the offense rolling, as Stetson's seventh pitcher retired the Wildcats in order for the loss in the third longest game of the season.

B. Johnson led the Wildcats with a 3-4 performance and four RBI, aided by Turner, who went 3-5, scoring three runs and batting in another. The pair led a 12-hit B-CU charge that topped the Hatters' 11 base hits.

“That was the encouraging part of the game was the fact that we overcame a lot of the mistakes that we made,” Beverlin noted.

The Wildcats (24-17) continue regional midweek games on Wednesday, traveling to Gainesville to face #2 Florida (31-10) at McKethan Stadium. The Gators fell in a 5-3 decision in tonight's game with USF at home. When these teams faced off in game four, the Wildcats gave UF a serious run, leading as late at the seventh inning before an 8-6 decision to the Gators.

B-CU will also appear on ESPNU, Friday at 12 noon, as they open the series with North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.

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