NORFOLK, Va. - Bethune-Cookman
(23-31) made a strong opening
statement in the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference (MEAC) Baseball
Championships, advancing to the second
round of the tournament and are slated
to face the host Norfolk State Spartans
on Thursday at Marty L. Miller Field.
Bethune-Cookman (22-31) at 2014 MEAC Baseball Championships
May 14-18, 2014
Second Round Game - Thursday May 15, 12:30 p.m.
Marty L. Miller Field - Norfolk, Va.
B-CU Social Media Outlets:
Twitter: @CookmanBaseball | @BCUathletics
Facebook: BCUathletics
Instagram: @BCUathletics
YouTube: CatEye Network
About the Wildcats
Working behind stout pitching and defense, the Wildcats got off to a strong start in the 2014 MEAC Baseball Championships, earning a shutout win over Maryland Eastern Shore behind a 14-strikeout pitching gem by MEAC Pitcher of the Year Montana Durapau.
In the second round, the Wildcats will take on tournament host Norfolk State (20-24), the Northern Division second seed, who defeated North Carolina Central 6-1 in the opening game. In B-CU's first game, the biggest offensive lift came from third baseman Jordan Robinson, who hit 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, including a two-run triple in the eighth to create separation. Robinson leads the team with 30 RBI and has 43 hits on the year, batting .250.
Left fielder Bryant Munoz continued his hot streak, batting 2-for-4 with an RBI. Over the past 15 games, Munoz has hit .367 since becoming a primary starter in the outfield. He bats .306 on the season. Both shortstop Shaun McCarty and catcher Zach Olszewski both added in 2-for-3 performances against UMES.
Look for the Wildcats' leading hitter to make a strong showing in the second game, as first baseman Eric Sams bats .325 with 66 hits and 41 runs scored this season.
On the mound, fans can expect to see second team All-MEAC pitcher Keith Zuniga take the reins for the second game. He has accrued a record of 6-4 and a MEAC third-best 2.69 ERA, with 52 strikeouts in 87 innings pitched.
About the Norfolk State Spartans
The Norfolk State Spartans are on a five-game winning streak after the opening-day victory over NCCU and have proven to be capable hitters, putting up 5.3 runs on 8.5 hits per outing. As a team, the Spartans average .269 hitting, led by second team All-MEAC second baseman Cody Ellis, who bats .340 with 36 hits, 12 RBI and 15 runs. Topping the squad in RBI at 25 is Ross Cardwell, who hits .317 on the year, while Andre Moore (.304) and Cameron Day (.330) are also notable contributors.
On the mound, look for the Spartans to go with Stephen Butt, who has accrued a 3-2 record and 4.36 ERA, with a team-leading 56 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched. As a team, the Spartans have a 5.66 collective ERA and opponents are batting .299 against them this season.
Live Coverage
The MEAC Office will provide live stats from Marty L. Miller Fielder throughNeuLion Stats on MEACSports. No live video will be broadcast. Fans can also keep up on game action with steady updates from Bethune-Cookman's social media outlets.
Staying Social
For all the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow the official Twitter feeds, @CookmanBaseball or @BCUathletics, or "Like Us" on Facebook at BCUathletics.
The official hashtags for this game will be: #BeatNorfolk and #HailWildcats.
To join the conversation on social media, be sure to tag your B-CU-related posts with the official hashtag of B-CU Athletics, #HailWildcats.
-B-CUathletics.com-
