SAVANNAH, Ga. – Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Tiger Baseball Stadium. The Wildcats took the opener by a 10-0 decision, but dropped the nightcap, 2-1.
GAME ONE RECAP
Bethune-Cookman senior pitcher Keith Zuniga went the distance in the first game of a doubleheader at Tiger Baseball Stadium, lifting the Wildcats to a 10-0 decision over Savannah State.
Bethune-Cookman (16-35, 14-8 MEAC) opened the game with three runs in the top of the first.
Following singles from Demetrius Sims and Nathan Bond, designated hitter Austin Garcia drove both Wildcats in with a double to left center, putting B-CU up, 2-0. Jameel Edney later plated Garcia courtesy a sacrifice fly to right field.
B-CU added to the lead in the third inning.
Shortstop Sims scored for the second time in the game off the bat of Garcia's single to left. Edney drove in the second run of the frame with a single to left scoring Bond for the 5-0 B-CU advantage. Freshman Mijon Cummings plated the next Wildcats score, bringing in Garcia. That was followed by catcher Clay Middleton's RBI single to short scoring Edney.
After three innings, the Wildcats led, 7-0.
Bethune-Cookman would put the conference's run rule into effect in the sixth, adding three runs for the 10-0 advantage.
Bond doubled home Bryant Munoz with a shot to right, followed by Garcia's sac fly that crossed Sims. Bond would score on a wild pitch from Savannah State (17-30, 10-12) reliever Greg Hollman.
Zuniga picked up the win throwing all seven innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. He fanned five batters and walked two. He improved his record to 6-5 on the year. The loss went to SSU's Austin Robinson who fell to 5-3.
B-CU was led on offense by Bond and Garcia who each registered three hits apiece. Garcia drove in four runs in the game.
GAME TWO RECAP
Freshman pitcher Tyler Norris worked all six innings in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing just three hits and two runs, but Savannah State took the win to split the day's doubleheader on the strength of a 2-1 decision at Tiger Baseball Stadium.
All runs for game two came in the opening inning as it was a pitcher's duel throughout between the Wildcats' Norris and the Tigers' Austin Denny.
Bethune-Cookman (16-36, 14-9 MEAC) opened the game with its lone run in the top of the first.
Bryant Munoz opened the game with a leadoff double, followed by a single from shortstop Demetrius Sims. Nathan Bond plated Munoz with a sac fly to center, allowing Munoz to scamper in from third.
Savannah State (18-30, 11-12 MEAC) countered in the bottom-half of the first with a pair of runs.
First baseman Charlie Sikes delivered a two-run homer to left, lifting the Tigers to the final 2-1 decision.
Norris and Denny then went toe-to-toe on the mound the rest of the way.
Denny collected the win to move to 4-3 on the year. He worked seven frames, allowing just one run on four hits and struck out four with two walks. The loss went to Norris who went six innings, allowed two runs on three hits. He also collected six strikeouts and walked two.
Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State will conclude the series with the rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m.
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