DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman was unable to get the offense rolling Wednesday night, as the Wildcats fell to visiting Stetson, 11-2 in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The two teams will meet for the second of two games on the year on April 26, in DeLand.
A night after scoring 10 runs, Bethune-Cookman (3-4) was unable to generate the same offensive output Wednesday against fellow Volusia County opponent Stetson.
Stetson (4-5) got to Bethune-Cookman starter Donté Lindsay (Cleveland, Ohio) in the second inning, pushing a run across and placing two men aboard before fifth-year head coach Jason Beverlin relieved the left-hander for senior Juan Pizarro (Bayamón, Puerto Rico).
In all, the Hatters would score five runs in the second frame.
Stetson scored two more runs in the fourth, using a Will Mackenzie fielder's choice RBI and a John Fussell RBI single to increase its lead at 7-0.
With the Wildcats trailing 9-0 in the home-half of the sixth, catcher Michael Cruz (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) placed a two-strike fastball to right field for his first hit of the game, plating shortstop Demetrius Sims (Ann Arbor, Mich.) who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the B-CU at-bat.
That brought Bethune-Cookman to within 9-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning.
The Hatters scored two insurance runs before the stretch, as a pair of runners crossed on a dropped fly ball by the Wildcats outfield, making it 11-1 in favor of the visitors from nearby DeLand, Florida.
The Cats scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth when freshman designated hitter Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) recorded an RBI single to right. That brought around Cruz, after the junior college transfer tripled just one play earlier.
That led to the final 11-2 score line in favor of Stetson.
Lindsay accepted the loss for the Wildcats, falling to 0-1 on the year. He went two full innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits, striking out two and walking one. The win went to Stetson starter Erik Wiebke (1-1) as he worked five frames, allowing just a pair of hits and striking out four batters.
In all six Wildcats toed the rubber, including Nate Sterijevski (Clermont, Fla.) and Clint Clymer (Ormond Beach, Fla.) who each worked scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectfully.
Cruz led the Wildcats offensively with two hits, including his first triple of the year. Sims garnered a hit, as well as Rodriguez and José Carballo (Cataño, Puerto Rico) who came on in reserve action at first base for the Wildcats.
Bethune-Cookman continues its homestand Friday, March 4, welcoming Florida Gulf Coast to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for the first of a three-game set. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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