DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast scored a combined 11 runs in the eighth and ninth innings on Sunday, claiming a 15-5 series-clinching victory over Bethune-Cookman in the rubber game of a three-game weekend set at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the top of the eighth inning, visiting Florida Gulf Coast (4-7) plated five runs with two outs in order to claim a 9-5 advantage.
After Tyler Atwell scored the tying run on a passed ball, it was second baseman Jake Noll registering the game-winning RBI as he pushed across catcher Kyle Gilbert on a double to left field.
That put the Eagles ahead, 6-5.
Another B-CU error would prove costly later in the Eagles at-bat as third baseman Tyler Selesky drove in a pair of runs on a single up the middle, bringing in Colton Bottomley and Matt Reardon to vault FGCU's lead at 9-5.
Bethune-Cookman (4-6) would have an opportunity to knot the game in the home-half of the eighth as the Wildcats loaded the bases on FGCU reliever Ryan Lang. However, Garrett Anderson stepped onto the mound with one out and the bases loaded, recording back-to-back outs – including a strikeout, to keep the Wildcats at bay.
FGCU added six additional runs in the top-half of the ninth in order to seal the series win.
B-CU started the game fast, plating three runs in the opening two innings.
With senior pitcher German Hernandez (Cleburne, Texas) pitching a shutout to open, freshman designated hitter Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) plated the game's opening run when he drove in shortstop Demetrius Sims (Ann Arbor, Mich.) on a double to right field. Rodriguez would score himself a play later on an error charged to FGCU's Noll.
Bethune-Cookman led 2-0 after the opening frame.
The Maroon and Gold would make it a 3-0 advantage in the second inning when sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney (West Palm Beach, Fla.) brought around Sims on a RBI single to center.
The Eagles broke Hernandez's 18-inning scoreless streak in the fourth when Selesky doubled to right center, allowing Nick Rivera to score from first. FGCU added runs in the fifth and sixth, respectfully, as Hernandez exited the mound after six complete and the score deadlocked at 3-all.
FGCU took the lead in the top of the seventh as Noll lifted a Joseph Calamita (Lake Worth, Fla.) 2-1 pitch clear of the left field wall, giving his team a 4-3 lead via the leadoff home run.
B-CU reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
B-CU starter German Hernandez went six complete on the hill in a no-decision, giving up his first three runs (two earned) of the 2016 campaign on 10 hits, while walking one and striking out three. His counterpart, FGCU starter Mario Leon, went five innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits, adding two walks and four strikeouts while failing to factor into the decision.
The win went to the Eagles Parker Hamilton (1-1) as he worked an inning and walked one. The save went to Garrett Anderson, earning his second of the season.
The loss went to Zach Olszewski (Bay City, Mich.), giving up two runs on one hit and adding a pair of strikeouts.
The Bethune-Cookman offense was paced by five different Wildcats with a hit apiece, including the two RBI from Rodriguez, and another from Heron and Edney, respectively.
Left fielder Rakeem Quinn (Port St. Joe, Fla.) began the Wildcats' at-bat drawing a walk, followed by stealing second and advancing on an error. That allowed freshman centerfielder Josten Heron (Miami, Fla.) to score Quinn with a single through the left side. Sims moved Heron into scoring position with a sac bunt, and Rodriguez would later score him with the bases loaded on a groundout back to the mound.
The Wildcats would carry a 5-4 lead into the eighth inning.
Bethune-Cookman returns home Tuesday, March 8, welcoming Jacksonville to Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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