DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M played a game to remember Sunday, with the second game of a doubleheader going to a B-CU school record 16 innings before finally seeing FAMU take the win, 6-0 and earn the series victory at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. B-CU took the first game of the day's doubleheader, 6-2, setting up the thrilling rubber match in the nightcap.
GAME ONE RECAP
Bethune-Cookman (1-10, 1-1 MEAC) picked up its first win of the season in the opener of a conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was the second game of the three-game MEAC series as yesterday's originally scheduled doubleheader was rained out, with FAMU taking the opener, 2-1.
Senior pitcher Keith Zuniga worked a complete game on the mound for the homestanding Wildcats, helping his team even the series with conference rival Florida A&M (2-6, 1-1 MEAC), as he allowed two runs (one earned) on just six hits and fanned four in a seven-inning contest.
It was FAMU striking first in the top-half of the opening inning.
Leadoff man Jared Walker laid down a bunt and advanced to second on an error to put pressure on B-CU right away. Alec Wong moved Walker over in the next at-bat, setting the tone for Ryan Kennedy's RBI groundout to shortstop, pushing in Walker for the 1-0 advantage.
The Wildcats struggled to get to FAMU starter Alex Carrasco at first, but finally broke through in the third inning with a trio of runs.
Second baseman Jameel Edney legged out a double to left field as the leadoff man, followed by Nathan Bond singling to left the very next play. After Mijon Cummings walked, the bases were loaded for catcher Clay Middleton to drive in Edney with a groundout to third.
That tied the game at 1-all.
With FAMU starter Carrasco replaced on the bump by Timothy Reker, the new hurler crossed up catcher Robby Jolley – ruled a passed ball, allowing Bond to cross the go-ahead run at 2-1. Brandon Wilkes' RBI sacrifice fly to right brought in Cummings from third, and it was a 3-1 B-CU lead after three innings played.
FAMU pushed another run across in the fifth, but another three-run inning for B-CU in the sixth allowed head coach Jason Beverlin to snap a 10-game losing streak, moving ever-so closer to win number 100 as a collegiate skipper.
After Wilkes led off the B-CU at-bat in the home-half of the sixth with a single shot back up the middle, Jordan Thomas moved him into scoring position courtesy a sacrifice bunt. Demetrius Sims singled up the middle two plays later, loading the bases for left fielder Bryant Munoz. He would reach on an error by the shortstop, driving in Wilkes and allowing Brandon McCalla to score as well. He was credited with a RBI as Wilkes was flying down the line from third on the hit-and-run.
Sims later scored when Bond lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field, pushing the B-CU lead to the final, 6-2.
With the win, Zuniga evened his record at 1-1 on the campaign, while Carrasco took the loss to fall to 0-3.
In all, eight different Wildcats collected hits in the game, including Bond who finished 1-for-1 with a pair of walks drawn. Cummings was 1-for-2 with two walks as well.
GAME TWO RECAP
In what is the longest game on record in B-CU Baseball history – topping the 15-inning affair against FAMU a season ago in Tallahassee, the 16-inning nightcap between B-CU and FAMU saw a true pitcher's duel from the starters to the bullpens, right until the end.
Despite several opportunities for both teams to break through into the runs column, the pitching staffs for both teams used great defensive plays and key strikeouts to lean the game from side-to-side in terms of momentum throughout. A total of 33 strikeouts were collected by both staffs in the contest.
With the game scoreless in the 16th inning, B-CU (1-11, 1-2 MEAC) closer Michael Austin toed the rubber for his third inning of action.
FAMU (3-6, 2-1 MEAC) got a leadoff single from Jared Walker, followed by a sac bunt to advance him into scoring position. Ryan Kennedy walked and Jeremy Barlow was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Rattlers with just one out. Austin settled in to strikeout Michael Birdsong swinging, setting the tone for the dramatic finish.
With the bases loaded and a full count on Marlon Gibbs, Austin's pitch was ruled just off the plate, allowing Gibbs the RBI walk to bring in Walker for the game's opening score. The exact same scenario occurred in the next at-bat, as Brian Davis took ball four on a full count, allowing FAMU a 2-0 lead with Kennedy scoring on the play.
Relief pitcher German Hernandez entered the game for the Maroon and Gold with the bases full of Rattlers and two away, but Peter Jackson took the first pitch, lining it to right center for a bases clearing double.
That allowed FAMU a 5-0 advantage.
A batter later, A.J. Elkins extended the lead to 6-0 with a single to center, bringing around Jackson.
B-CU went down in order in the bottom of the frame, giving FAMU its first series win in Daytona Beach since 2000.
The Wildcats had opportunities to win the game.
In the 12th, B-CU had runners on the corners with two outs, only to see pinch hitter Austin Garcia go down swinging. The Cats had bases loaded in the 13th, but Brandon Wilkes saw a strike three called to end the frame.
The Cats had two men on in the 14th and 15th, respectively.
In the 14th, Jake Welch drew a leadoff walk, eventually advancing to third, while Munoz was intentionally walked for defensive substitute Brandon Amendolare. He would ground out to third for the final out. Meanwhile, in the 15th inning, Welch struck-out looking to end the frame with Cummings and Middleton standing on first and second.
Austin accepted the loss in reserve action, falling to 0-1 on the year. Brandon Fleming took the win for the Rattlers, improving to 2-0.
B-CU starter Tyler Norris threw five shutout innings, spreading out three hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Sidney Duprey got work out of the pen for three frames, shutting down the Rattlers with just a walk allowed. Ivan Coutinho and Clint Clymer combined for four innings, allowing two hits combined.
Munoz, Cummings and Middleton each paced the B-CU offense with two hits apiece.
The Cats return to the diamond Wednesday, March 4, at 6 p.m., welcoming the Main Black Bears to Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
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