DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Three Wildcats delivered home runs on Saturday, helping power Bethune-Cookman to a doubleheader split and series victory over visiting North Carolina A&T in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. North Carolina A&T collected the opening game, 14-10, before Bethune-Cookman bounced back in the nightcap, 4-2.
GAME ONE: N.C. A&T 14, Bethune-Cookman 10
North Carolina A&T poured on nine runs over the last four innings, erasing an 8-5 deficit and giving the Aggies a 14-10 win against Bethune-Cookman in the first of two games Saturday at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
North Carolina A&T (6-18, 2-3 MEAC) plated five runs in the opening half-inning, giving the visitors a sizeable advantage from the start.
However, Bethune-Cookman (10-14, 3-5 MEAC) scored three runs in the home-half of the frame, using redshirt junior Clay Middleton's three-run homer to left field to bring the Maroon and Gold to within, 5-3.
The Wildcats vaulted in front with five runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Jameel Edney doubled and Michael Cruz walked, setting the stage for freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez to power out his third home run of the year. For Rodriguez, a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, it was his second home run of the weekend, and his fourth of the campaign.
Later in the inning, sophomore centerfielder Kyle Corbin collected a RBI groundout to score Middleton from third, while redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims' sacrifice fly to center pushed across Nathan Bond.
That allowed the Wildcats an 8-5 lead after three innings.
However, N.C. A&T would answer with six runs in the top of the fourth inning, eventually chasing B-CU starting pitcher Tyler Norris in the frame. For the Aggies, they scored six runs on seven hits – all of them singles.
After another N.C. A&T run in the top of the fifth, Bethune-Cookman looked up at a 12-8 deficit.
The Wildcats brought back two runs in the home-half of the sixth when Bond delivered a two-run double to right field, driving in relief pitcher Nate Sterijevski and Rodriguez. That cut the Aggies lead at 12-10.
But it was N.C. A&T answering with a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Ryan Jantsch scored two with a double over the head of B-CU right fielder Bond, allowing the Aggies the 14-10 final score.
The win went to Aggies reliever B. Smith, earning his first win of the year and upping his record to 1-2 on the year. Smith threw two innings, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk issued. N.C. A&T starter Will Greene pitched three frames, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on five hits, adding four walks against two strikeouts.
For B-CU starter Norris, it was the sophomore's first bad start in four outings and his first loss on the spin, dropping his record to 3-1. He worked just 3.1 innings, giving up nine runs on nine hits and walking two with a strikeout.
The B-CU offense was powered by Middleton with a perfect 2-for-2 outing, adding three RBI and scoring twice.
GAME TWO: Bethune-Cookman 4, North Carolina A&T
Junior catcher Michael Cruz homered, and Alex Seibold registered a complete-game performance on the hill, helping homestanding Bethune-Cookman collect a 4-2 series winning victory over North Carolina A&T in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
With the game tied at 2-all in the bottom of the fifth inning, Bethune-Cookman (11-14, 4-5 MEAC) used a Michael Cruz home run to right to step out in front, 3-2.
The Wildcats would extend their lead in the bottom of the seventh when designated hitter Clay Middleton pushed his hitting streak to 18 games with a RBI single up the middle, pushing across Jameel Edney from second base. That gave Bethune-Cookman the 4-2 final decision.
North Carolina A&T (6-19, 2-4 MEAC) got on the board first in the top of the third inning.
Aggies third baseman Forest Kimbrell singled and stole second, allowing shortstop Milton Rivera to lift a two-run scoring homer to left field, putting the visitors ahead, 2-0.
Bethune-Cookman bounced back to tie the game in the bottom of the frame.
Left fielder Rakeem Quinn singled on a bunt, while Jameel Edney tallied his third home run of the year past the scoreboard in left centerfield.
With the win, Bethune-Cookman collects its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series win, as well as the third win on the week.
In going the entire way on the hill, Seibold picked up his first win of the year in improving to 1-3 on the year. The Lauderhill, Florida native allowed just two runs on 10 hits, picking up seven strikeouts against zero (0) walks. The Wildcats defense helped the tall right-hander out as well, turning five double plays in the game.
The loss went to N.C. A&T starter Kaeson Wilson, dropping him to 1-5 on the campaign, as he worked six innings, giving up three runs on four hits, adding two walks and two strikeouts.
The B-CU offense was paced by Cruz with a 1-for-1 showing – adding the home run, and drawing three walks. Rakeem Quinn was 3-for-5 with a run scored, while teammates Edney and Middleton added hits on the day.
Bethune-Cookman returns home to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, March 29, when the Wildcats host FIU at 4 p.m.
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