DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman concluded its seven-game homestand Wednesday evening, taking apart visiting UCF by a score of 17-3 in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida.
B-CU fifth-year head coach Jason Beverlin turned to Cleveland native Donté Lindsay on the bump Wednesday evening, and he did not disappoint in producing five solid inning for his first quality start of the 2016 campaign – the second of his career.
With Bethune-Cookman (5-7) trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Wildcats put together their best offensive inning of the season in the home-half of the frame.
UCF (7-7) starting pitcher Juan Pimentel loaded the bases with no outs, allowing designated hitter Danny Rodriguez to blast a three-run scoring double into the gap in right center, vaulting the Wildcats ahead, 3-2. Rodriguez would later score himself on a Pimentel wild pitch.
That spelled the end of line for Pimentel, as UCF went to the bullpen in favor of Eric Hepple.
However, Bethune-Cookman wasted little time continuing the hot bats and getting to Hepple as Justin Hellweg singled through the left side to drive across Rakeem Quinn. After Trent Nash and Hellweg moved up a base on a Hepple wild pitch, freshman centerfielder Josten Heron delivered a two-run scoring single between the UCF shortstop and third baseman.
Bethune-Cookman carried a 7-2 advantage into the home-half of the fourth, setting the stage for Jameel Edney to lift his team-leading second home run of the campaign over the wall in left, putting B-CU on top, 8-2.
The Wildcats plated another run in the frame as Hellweg drew a bases loaded walk from UCF's Harrison Hukari – the third Knights pitcher of the game to that point. Heron would follow with a base on balls of his own, allowing Quinn to score and put B-CU ahead, 10-2.
The offensive onslaught for the Wildcats would continue in the sixth as the Maroon and Gold drove across six (6) additional runs.
Rakeem Quinn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing across Demetrius Sims who drew a walk in his at-bat earlier in the inning. Catcher Clay Middleton then laced a 0-1 pitch down the right field line to cross Rodriguez and Edney on the play, giving B-CU the insurmountable 16-2 advantage.
Middleton would plate the final Wildcats run of the game with a RBI single through the left side in the home-half of the eighth inning, driving in Edney.
UCF managed a run in the ninth, but it was not enough, allowing the Cats to end their two-game losing skid and even the yearly two-game home-and-home series this season with the Knights.
In earning his first win of the season, Lindsay (1-1) worked five innings, allowing just the two runs in the first inning on five hits total, walking five and striking out four batters. Zach Olszewski worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out two Knights. And it was Tyler Krull combining with Charles Eytel to finish the game in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
The loss went to Pimentel who fell to 0-2 on the year. He went just 2.2 innings, and was tagged for six runs on seven hits and walking a batter.
Edney led all hitters on the night with a 4-for-5 output at the dish, scoring four runs and driving in a pair. Michael Cruz, Rodriguez and Middleton all accounted for three hits apiece, while it was Middleton and Rodriguez picking up three RBI each. Heron finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
Bethune-Cookman opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play this weekend, as the Wildcats travel to Florida A&M for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 12. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Moore-Kittles Field in Tallahassee, Florida.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.
– @BCUDiamondCats –
