DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ivan Coutinho and Joseph Calamita allowed just four hits over the final 4.2 innings Friday night, but it was the homestanding Bethune-Cookman Wildcats dropping a 5-0 season-opening decision to the Murray State Racers at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Senior right-hander Alex Seibold (Lauderhill, Fla.) started off hot on the mound for Bethune-Cookman (0-1), cruising through the opening inning. However, the second inning would be different, as the former Broward College ace found himself in trouble early-on.
Murray State's Brandon Gutzler began the second inning with a double to left field, followed by first baseman Ramsey Scott drawing a four-pitch walk – advancing just moments later on a wild pitch. Kip Moore's sacrifice fly to center plated Gutzler from third, while Scott scored on the ensuing play, using a single from designated hitter Reed Thompson, and an error by the B-CU infield to put MSU up, 2-0.
The Racers (1-0) extended the lead in the top-half of the third inning, as Tyler Lawrence moved up to third base on a single to shallow center by Gutzler, only to see the Racers' catcher scamper in from third on a fielding error charged to B-CU freshman centerfielder Josten Heron (Miami, Fla.). The Southridge High product attempted to field the ball and make a throw to the plate, slowing Lawrence momentarily, until the ball slipped under his glove, allowing Lawrence to round third and trot in for the score.
After the Wildcats tagged Murray State starter Jack Hranec for two hits in the home-half of the first, the left-hander settled in nicely to allow just two additional hits in his next four frames on the bump.
Seibold allowed two more Racers runs to cross in the fifth, including a leadoff home run to deep right from left fielder Adam Bauer, pushing the visitor's lead to 5-0.
B-CU relievers Joseph Calamita (Lake Worth, Fla.) and Ivan Coutinho (Winter Park, Fla.) combined to work the final 4 2/3 innings on the hill, as Calamita relieved Seibold in the fifth. He picked up a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 frames, while Coutinho allowed just three hits and fanned three with zero (0) walks in three innings tossed.
The Racers were led at the plate by Bauer's 3-for-4 night, scoring twice and adding a RBI via the solo homer in the fifth. Gutzler finished up with two hits and a run scored, while teammate Aaron Bence added a 3-for-4 game of his own.
B-CU was paced by four different Wildcats with a hit apiece. Redshirt sophomore Demetrius Sims (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was joined by junior Michael Cruz (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico), freshman Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and redshirt junior Clay Middleton (Oviedo, Fla.) for hits.
The winning pitcher was Murray State's Hranec (1-0), as he tossed five shutout innings, allowing four hits, three walks and striking out three. Right-hander John Lollar picked up the save in three innings of work, fanning a batter and not allowing a single hit. Reliever Brandon Hicks also got in on the action, working a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts of his own.
The loss went to Seibold, as he gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits, walked three and struckout four in 4 1/3 innings.
The two teams will meet for the second game of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m., back at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Admission for the B-CU/MSU weekend series is absolutely free.
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