DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Three Bethune-Cookman players collected multi-hit games Tuesday afternoon, but it was not enough as the Wildcats fell to visiting FIU by a score of 21-8 in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
With Bethune-Cookman trailing by a single run at 5-4 in the top of the fifth inning, FIU (13-15) erupted for nine runs in the top-half of the frame, leading to an insurmountable deficit for the homestanding Wildcats.
Bethune-Cookman (11-15) got on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame.
Second baseman Jameel Edney walked in his at-bat, later advancing three bases in consecutive pitches from FIU starting pitcher Robert Garcia as the right-hander threw three-straight wild pitches to plate the sophomore from West Palm Beach, Florida. The Wildcats made it 2-0 in the next frame when left fielder Rakeem Quinn grounded into a double play that allowed redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims to score from third. Sims reached safely in his at-bat with a single to his position, later stealing his sixth base of the year to get himself into scoring position.
After FIU tacked on four runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by Zack Soria's three-run homer – the first of two on the day for the FIU catcher, B-CU bounced back to knot the score in the bottom of the third.
Sims collected his second hit of the afternoon to push across Nathan Bond, followed by third baseman Trent Nash scoring on a wild pitch from Panthers reliever Frank Chacon.
But it would FIU countering in the 10 unanswered runs in the next two frames to break open a 14-4 advantage.
The Wildcats answered with a trip of runs in the home-half of the fifth, using an Edney two-run single to left that drove in Bond and centerfielder Josten Heron. Designated hitter Clay Middleton crossed earlier in the at-bat on a passed ball issued to FIU's Soria.
Middleton had his career-long 18-game hitting streak snapped with a 0-for-2 night at the dish, drawing three walks and being hit by a pitch. The redshirt junior from Oviedo, Florida was just one hit away from tying the school record hitting streak set by José Lozada in 2008.
The Cats also plated a run in the eighth inning, leading to the 21-8 final score.
The win went to FIU relief pitcher Willy Fabra earning his first win of the year, moving his record to 1-2. He tossed two innings, allowing three runs on zero (0) hits with three walks and two strikeouts. B-CU's Donté Lindsay took the loss, falling to 2-3 on the year. Lindsay went four innings, giving up giving up a season-high seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Three Wildcats claimed two hits on the night, including Edney with two RBIs as well. Bond added two hits and scored three times, while Sims legged out two hits and scored a run with a RBI.
Bethune-Cookman next travels to Ohio State for a three-game series in Columbus, Ohio, beginning Friday, April 1, at 6 p.m.
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