WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman was unable to get anything going offensively Friday afternoon, as the Wildcats fell to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 11-0 in non-conference baseball action at Chain of Lakes Stadium. The game was part of the 2016 Russmatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-3) broke open a pitcher's duel in the home-half of the third inning, as second baseman Billy Quirke registered a home run clear of the right field wall, giving the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
After the Panthers added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, starting catcher Daulton Varsho tallied the first of two home runs for the catcher/left fielder in back-to-back at-bats with a three-run shot to right field. The homer came off B-CU sophomore pitcher Tyler Norris (Coral Springs, Fla.), after he relieved starting pitcher Alex Seibold (Lauderhill, Fla.) in the sixth inning.
Bethune-Cookman (2-3) used four pitchers on the day, including Charles Eytel (Aloha, Ore.) and Juan Pizarro (Bayamón, Puerto Rico) to work the final two innings.
UW-Milwaukee would send 10 men to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, as the Panthers added three additional runs in the seventh, courtesy the second home run of the day from Varsho.
Seibold (0-2) took the loss for the Wildcats, working four innings and allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and a season-best seven strikeouts. The win went to UW-Milwaukee's Jay Peters (1-0) as the right-hander tossed seven shutout innings, with just two hits allowed and registering eight strikeouts against two walks. Reliever Alex Fischer combined for the shutout in the eighth and ninth innings, respectfully.
B-CU was led by a hit apiece from catcher Michael Cruz (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico), Rakeem Quinn (Port St. Joe, Fla.) and Josten Heron (Miami, Fla.).
The Cats get back to the diamond Tuesday, March 1, as they host USF to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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