DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Clay Middleton's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Bethune-Cookman a 3-2 win over FIU in non-conference baseball action Tuesday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
FIU (11-14) took the lead early-on, as Edwin Rios blasted a run-scoring double to right field, scoring Jack Schaaf for the 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
The Panthers added to their lead in the top of the third, using a triple from Rios off the right centerfield wall to score left fielder Brian Portelli from first, stretching the FIU lead at 2-0.
Bethune-Cookman (7-20) would answer back in the bottom of the third.
With Brandon Wilkes safely aboard having singled earlier in the Wildcats at-bat, right fielder Jordan Robinson singled up the middle to plate Wilkes from second.
That brought B-CU to within 2-1.
Both teams turned to the bullpen for most of the game, including a B-CU staff that did not allow a single run through the final seven frames.
The Wildcats finally broke through against the FIU bullpen in the eighth.
Wilkes led off being hit by a pitch from Danny Dopico, and later moving to third two plays later when third baseman Mijon Cummings singled to second. On the ensuing play, Robinson would strike out on a Dopico pitch outside, but the ball got past the glove of FIU catcher JC Escarra, allowing Robinson to reach safely – and Wilkes to score the tying run from third.
With the game deadlocked at 2-all, both teams appeared to have a chance to either score the go-ahead or winning run in the ninth inning.
In the top of the frame, B-CU relief pitcher Michael Austin walked leadoff man Schaaf on four pitches, only to induce a double play on the next at-bat from shortstop Julius Gaines, ending any sort of a threat for the Panthers.
Bethune-Cookman countered in the home-half of the frame with a single from left fielder Jake Welch, followed by an error charged to the FIU infield, allowing runners to reach the corners with two away. However, FIU closer Brandon Diaz settled in to get designated hitter Nathan Bond to go down swinging, ending the inning.
In the 10th, Austin worked his second scoreless frame, giving his team another chance for victory in the home-half of the inning.
It was B-CU's Robinson leading off with a hard-hit ball to center field for a single, followed by pinch hitter José Carballo being hit by a pitch from Diaz, putting two men on with nobody out. Jordan Thomas placed a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, leaving the only play at first, allowing Robinson and Carballo to advance 90 feet, and having Robinson serve as the winning run on third.
FIU made a call to the bullpen in the form of hard-throwing right-hander Garrett Cave to face catcher Clay Middleton of the Wildcats. It would be the only batter he would face, as Middleton lined a 2-2 pitch to centerfield, allowing Robinson to score the winning run from third on the sacrifice fly.
Austin got the win for the Cats, evening his record to 1-1 on the year, as he worked 2 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out two.
The rest of the B-CU bullpen was equally impressive as Joseph Calamita went two complete innings, allowing just a hit and striking out one while walking one. Danny Melgarejo worked two-and-a-third, spreading out three hits, allowing a walk and striking out a batter.
B-CU starter Tyler Norris went three innings, as he allowed two runs on three hits, but struck out two with two walks as he exited without factoring into the decision.
The loss went to FIU's Diaz who fell to 0-1 on the year. FIU starter Zayas went three frames on the bump, allowing a single run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
The B-CU offense was led by Robinson and shortstop Demetrius Sims with a pair of hits each, including Robinson's RBI and run scored. Wilkes was 1-for-4, scoring both runs for B-CU prior to extra innings.
Bethune-Cookman not only snapped its five-game losing skid Tuesday night, but it was the first non-conference win for the Wildcats on the 2015 campaign. They entered the game 0-17 against teams outside the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Wildcats return to the diamond Wednesday, March 25, as they host the North Florida Ospreys to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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