DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tyler Norris pitched five strong innings on Sunday afternoon, while seven different Wildcats registered hits to help Bethune-Cookman to a 3-2 series-clinching victory over Murray State in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
For the second consecutive game, strong starting pitching was the key for fifth-year head coach Jason Beverlin and the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Norris (Coral Springs, Fla.) spun a gem Sunday, stymieing the Racers bats for the better part of five innings.
Bethune-Cookman (2-1) got on the board first in the second inning.
Senior left fielder Rakeem Quinn (Port St. Joe, Fla.) began the Wildcats' at-bat with a single, followed by swiping second and moving to third on an overthrow from Murray State (1-2) catcher Tyler Lawrence, attempting to catch Quinn stealing second. The throw would hit Quinn in the back, allowing him to scamper to 90 feet to third on the play. That allowed sophomore third baseman Brandon Wilkes (Holly Hill, Fla.) to lace a RBI single to right center, putting B-CU ahead, 1-0.
B-CU would increase its lead by two in the home-half of the fourth inning.
The first three batters reached base safely to begin the Wildcats' batting in the fourth, allowing Wilkes to secure his second RBI of the day. The former Spruce Creek High all-county performer grounded a ball to third, allowing Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to trot in from third.
The Cats added another run when catcher Clay Middleton (Oviedo, Fla.) singled through the left side, plating Josten Heron (Miami, Fla.) for the 3-0 Bethune-Cookman lead.
Norris would exit the game after the fifth inning having tossed 90 pitches. In the process, he picked up a career-best 11 strikeouts and allowed just two hits in five innings worked.
Murray State responded in the sixth with a pair of runs to get back into the game.
Left fielder Adam Bauer singled off B-CU reliever Zach Olszewski (Bay City, Mich.), and teammate Brandon Gutzler followed with a double to right center, allowing the Racers to touch the scoreboard as Bauer came around from first. First baseman Ramsey Scott later scored Gutzler from third with a sacrifice fly to left field.
All-MEAC Preseason performer Clint Clymer (Ormond Beach, Fla.) entered to close the frame, as B-CU held a 3-2 advantage after six innings played.
The Racers put the tying run in scoring position in the top-half of the ninth, but it was junior Donté Lindsay (Cleveland, Ohio) that toed the rubber to register the final two outs and collect his first save of the year, securing the 3-2 B-CU victory.
Norris (1-0) grabbed the win for the Wildcats, while Lindsay tossed the final innings for the save. Clymer tossed 1.2 innings out of the pen for the Maroon and Gold, picking up a strikeout, allowing one walk and one hit in the hold. Charles Eytel also saw his first action of the year on the mound, pitching 2/3 of an inning, and walking just one with no hits allowed.
The loss went to Murray State's Andrew Bramley (0-1) in a starting job, as he went four innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Relievers Brandon Hicks, Ryan Dills and Cody Maerz combined for the final four innings, allowing just three hits and no runs in that span.
The Racers were led offensively by designated hitter Jack Hranec with two hits in three at-bats, while Gutzler tallied a hit and a RBI in a losing effort.
B-CU was sparked by seven batters with a hit each, using two RBI from Wilkes and one from Middleton.
Bethune-Cookman returns to the diamond Tuesday, Feb. 23, traveling to face UCF in Orlando, Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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