STATESBORO, Ga. – Nathan Bond registered three hits on Saturday, but it was not enough as Bethune-Cookman fell to Georgia Southern by a count of 12-8 in the second game of a three-game stretch inside J.I. Clements Stadium. With the win, the Eagles took the series after claiming a 3-0 decision over the Wildcats in Friday's season-opener for both squads.
With the game tied at seven entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Georgia Southern (2-0) took off for four runs en route to the series win.
The Eagles centerfielder Kody Adams started the scoring with a RBI single to center, scoring C.J. Brazil after the catcher singled and advanced on a wild pitch to begin the Georgia Southern at-bat. That spawned Bethune-Cookman (0-2) head coach Jason Beverlin to bring Michael Austin out of the bullpen in relief of Sidney Duprey.
With the bases loaded, Ryan Cleveland collected a sacrifice fly to left, plating Aaron Mizell for the 9-7 advantage. The lead grew to 10-7 when leadoff hitter Kody Adams scampered in from third via passed ball from B-CU catcher Clay Middleton. A batter later, the bases were loaded for the Eagles as shortstop Dalton Busby drew a walk, allowing Griffin to score on the play.
B-CU got a run back in the seventh as Nathan Bond began the frame with a double down the left field line, and later came around to score when Demetrius Sims brought him in with a RBI ground-out to short, cutting into the lead at 11-8.
Georgia Southern added an insurance run for the final 12-8 score in the eighth.
Hudgins got on after being hit by a 3-1 pitch, later stealing second base and eventually scoring on an error charged to the Bethune-Cookman infield.
A day after they were shutout on just two hits, it was the Wildcats who were the first to score in the game, taking an early 4-0 lead in the second inning.
Bond was first to reach base safely as he singled to center, followed by a pair of walks issued to Brandon Wilkes and Bryant Munoz. Sims recorded one of his two RBI with a ground-out to third that brought in Bond. Centerfielder Jake Welch delivered a bases-clearing triple to right that plated three runs, after Middleton was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
With the Cats holding a 4-1 advantage in the third, the homestanding Eagles crossed five players to take the lead in the home-half of the inning.
Designated hitter Chase Griffin singled up the middle to cross Adams from second, while Hudgins singled past short to plate Mizell. The Eagles also got runs from Griffin on the strength of a B-CU error charged to the infield, as well as a sacrifice fly from Busby.
Bethune-Cookman tied the game with three runs in the top-half of the sixth inning.
A pair of walks to Sims and Middleton was followed by an Eagles error that allowed Sims to score for the inning's first run. That closed the book on relief pitcher Charles Sheffield, spawning Georgia Southern to bring in Jason Richman on a short rest from yesterday's 1 2/3 inning outing. The Cats quickly pounced on Richman for two runs as Jordan Robinson singled past the glove of the pitcher to score Middleton, followed by Welch stealing home.
For the Wildcats, it was the first time a player had stolen home plate since Jose Lozada in 2008.
Neither starting pitcher lasted long on the hill in the game.
B-CU junior right-hander Alex Seibold went just two innings, giving up five earned runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out two. The Cats used four pitchers out of the bullpen on the afternoon, including Tyler Norris who worked two frames, allowing a run on no hits, but walked two and fanned a game-high five batters.
Georgia Southern starting right-hander Adam Kelly went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits and walking two with three strikeouts. The Eagles countered with seven pitchers out of the pen, as Anthony Paesano closed the game working two scoreless frames and striking out three against just one walk.
The win went to Richman who picked up his first victory of the campaign, while the loss was tacked to B-CU's Duprey who fell to just 0-1 on the year. Paesano picked up his first save of the year.
Georgia Southern was led offensively by Adams and Griffin with two hits apiece, as well as Busby with three RBI.
The Cats were led at the plate by Bond's three-hit performance in four at-bats, as well as Robinson with a multi-hit day, as he collected a pair of singles and drove in a run. Sims added two RBI and scored twice, and it was Welch delivering a game-high tying three RBI and scoring once. Middleton also struck for two hits and walked twice.
Bethune-Cookman will finish the three-game set against the Eagles on Sunday in the series finale set for 1 p.m.
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