DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast scored three runs in the ninth inning to secure a 9-6 series-opening victory over homestanding Bethune-Cookman on Friday night in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
With the game tied at 6-all and the bases loaded for Florida Gulf Coast (3-6), leadoff hitter and second baseman Jake Noll doubled to left and plated a pair of runs in the form of Zach Spivey and Matt Reardon to give the Eagles an 8-6 advantage. Relief pitcher Zach Olszewski would toe the rubber for Bethune-Cookman to collect the final two outs, but not before third baseman Tyler Selesky plated Gage Morey on a sacrifice fly to left, leading to the final 9-6 score.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Bethune-Cookman (3-5) scored three runs to knot the game for the second time on the night.
The Wildcats went to work early on FGCU reliever Cory Weiand, as Michael Cruz walked and Danny Rodriguez singled as the first two men to greet the left-hander. Third baseman Trent Nash would cross Cruz with a RBI single to right, followed by Nathan Bond and Nash advancing courtesy a passed ball.
After José Carballo walked against the second pitcher of the inning for the Eagles – this time it was Clint Knoblauch working on the mound, left fielder Rakeem Quinn delivered a RBI single to right. That allowed Bond to score, while Nash would score one batter later as a throwing error was charged to the FGCU shortstop Reardon.
Bethune-Cookman took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Rodriguez, serving as the designated hitter, drove a 0-1 pitch to center for a RBI standup double, plating Cruz in the process.
Both starters for the respective teams were off the hook for records. Both starters were looking for their first win of the season.
B-CU's Alex Seibold went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, but fanning four batters and walking just two. Countering was Sterling Koerner of the Eagles, as he was tagged for three runs (two earned) on nine hits, collecting three strikeouts and walking a pair. He would toss six complete innings before being relieved by Weiand to start the seventh.
As FGCU held a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims posted a RBI single to right, driving in centerfielder Kyle Corbin from second after the Orlando native swiped second a play earlier. Corbin singled in his at-bat to start the B-CU bottom-half of the frame.
The Wildcats added another run in the sixth with Carballo scoring on a wild pitch.
The Eagles stretched their lead in the seventh as Atwell took a Clint Clymer 2-2 pitch and cleared the left field wall for his first home run of the campaign. That pushed the FGCU lead to 6-3.
The win went to FGCU reliever Knoblauch (1-0) as he worked 2.2 innings and gave up just two hits while fanning three and walking two. In reverse, Ivan Coutinho (0-1) suffered the loss for the Cats as he went 0.2 inning, allowing two runs and walking three.
The B-CU offense was sparked by Rakeem Quinn with a 3-for-4 night, adding a RBI. Sims upped his hitting streak to three games with a 3-for-6 performance, while Michael Cruz added to his eight-game hitting streak with a 2-for-2 night with two RBI. Rodriguez added a pair of hits, as well as Nash with two hits, a RBI and a run scored.
The two teams meet for game two of the three-game series back at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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