GREENSBORO, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman earned a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series sweep of North Carolina A&T on Sunday, taking both games of a doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium. B-CU took the opener, 7-4, followed by a 16-5 decision in the nightcap.
Head Coach Jason Beverlin picked up his 100th coaching victory in the opener. The fourth-year coach has led the Wildcats to two NCAA regional appearances.
GAME ONE RECAP
Alex Seibold pitched five innings to earn the win, while seven different Wildcats tallied hits to help Bethune-Cookman to a 7-4 win in the opener.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Bethune-Cookman (5-15, 5-3 MEAC) paced its self to start a comeback in the third and fourth inning, respectively.
Jameel Edney started things off reaching base courtesy an error charged to the North Carolina A&T (2-11, 0-4 MEAC) infield, then advancing to second on the play. An error on the very next play allowed Nathan Bond to reach safely, as well as Edney being able to score. José Carballo's single to left plated Bond, bringing the Wildcats to within 3-2.
Brandon Wilkes led off the fourth inning with a double, scoring when Edney stroked a double to left, followed by Bryant Munoz crossing for the 4-3 B-CU advantage on the third Aggies error of the game. The Cats stretched the lead at 5-3 when Mijon Cummings collected a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Edney to score from third.
After North Carolina A&T got a run back in the fifth, Nathan Bond delivered his first home run of the season with a shot over the right centerfield wall in the top-half of the sixth, putting B-CU out in front, 6-4.
Edney's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Middleton to conclude the scoring and giving B-CU the series win.
Seibold improved to 2-1 on the campaign, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out three in five innings. Michael Austin and Clint Clymer combined for the final two innings on the hill, allowing just a single hit and fanning two.
N.C. A&T starter Jerry Liang fell to 0-2 on the year with the loss.
GAME TWO RECAP
Jake Welch drove out his first home run of the year, and starting pitcher Tyler Norris tossed five solid frames to give Bethune-Cookman the series sweep of N.C. A&T on the strength of a 16-5 decision in the nightcap of a doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium.
B-CU (6-15, 6-3 MEAC) wasted little time jumping on N.C. A&T starter Brian Poag, scoring 13 runs in the first five innings,
With B-CU holding a 2-0 lead heading into the third inning, Demetrius Sims started things off with a single, followed by hits from Edney and Munoz to load the bases. Dijon Cummings' fielder's choice RBI drove in Sims, and Jordan Robinson's sacrifice fly drove in Edney for the 4-0 B-CU advantage.
The lead increased to 5-0 when Brandon Wilkes stroked a RBI single to right to plate Munoz.
The big inning came with six runs in the fifth for the Cats.
With two men on, Jake Welch launched a three-run shot to left that put the 'Cats ahead 13-0.
B-CU added three additional runs in the ninth, using Edney's RBI single, followed by Welch's RBI double to increase the lead at 15-5 The final run was scored courtesy another Aggie that allowed Welch to score from third on a dropped fly ball.
Tyler Norris improved to 2-1 with the victory, working five strong innings. He allowed three runs on three hits – all of them coming in the sixth inning - while striking out six and walking three. Poag (0-2) took the loss for the Aggies.
Edney paced the B-CU offense with a 4-for-6 day, while six additional Wildcats recorded a multi-hit game, including Welch's 2-for-3 performance and adding four RBI.
B-CU returns to the diamond Tuesday, facing nationally-ranked UCF at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in a game slated for a 6 p.m. start.
