ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman scored six late runs in the first game to cap a come-from-behind win, and sophomore pitcher Tyler Norris pitched a complete-game shutout in the nightcap to help the Wildcats sweep a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from Savannah State at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. With the doubleheader sweep, the Wildcats earned their third MEAC series win on the spin.
GAME ONE: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 12, SAVANNAH STATE 7
Bethune-Cookman scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a come-from-behind win over visiting Savannah State, 12-7 in the opening game of a three-game series at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Due to a scheduling conflict with the Daytona Tortuga at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the Wildcats were forced to play in Ormond Beach, Florida
Bethune-Cookman (12-19, 5-5 MEAC) trailed 7-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
After redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims singled and freshman centerfielder Josten Heron doubled inside the bag at third, Savannah State (9-22, 4-6 MEAC) went to the bullpen for right-hander Rex Davis. However, senior left fielder Rakeem Quinn greeted Davis with a two-run scoring single to left, allowing B-CU to take an 8-7 lead.
For B-CU, the lead represented the first of its kind since holding a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney reached courtesy a fielder's choice, as Savannah State shortstop Somto Egbuna overthrew his teammate Jacob Lightle at third base, with the duo trying to cut down a streaking Quinn from second base. As the ball went to the fence along the third base line, it allowed the speedy Quinn to score and advance the Wildcats lead, 9-7.
Edney made it 10-7 when he scored two batters later on a Danny Rodriguez single to left. Senior right fielder Nathan Bond plated the freshman first baseman from Pembroke Pines, Florida just moments later with a single to shallow right field. That allowed third baseman Brandon Wilkes to score designated hitter Clay Middleton with a RBI single of his own.
For Wilkes, it was his first action for the Wildcats since the opening game of the FAMU series on March 12.
B-CU held a 12-7 lead heading to the top of the ninth.
Senior All-MEAC pitcher Clint Clymer closed the door for the Wildcats in a non-save situation.
SSU starting pitcher Austin Robinson entered the game without an earned run allowed in two quality starts on the year.
But it would be the homestanding Wildcats who opened the game with three runs in the opening frame.
Middleton drove in a pair of Wildcats on a double to the wall in center field, followed by an RBI single from Bond past the glove of a diving SSU second baseman Jonathan Moore.
The Tigers answered quickly with three runs in the top of the second inning.
With the bases loaded for the Tigers, left fielder Khalyd Cox delivered a two-run double past the glove of Edney at second, scoring Mendez Elder and Ryan McCranie. Lightle followed a batter later with a RBI groundout to Edney at second, allowing Egbuna to score easily from third.
SSU took its first lead of the game at 5-3 with two runs in the top of the third. The Tigers edged further to a 6-3 advantage in the fifth inning, ending the day for B-CU starting pitcher German Hernandez on the hill.
B-CU cut into the deficit in the sixth as Bond registered his second home run of the year with a two-run shot to right field. That cut the SSU lead at 6-5, setting the tone for the comeback opportunity for the Cats.
The win was collected by relief pitcher Zach Olszewski, evening his record at 1-1 on the year. He went two innings on the mound, allowing an unearned run on no hits and five strikeouts. Clymer tossed the ninth, allowing a hit and fanning a pair.
The loss went to SSU reliever Gregory Smith II, dropping his record to 2-5 on the campaign. He worked just an inning and a third, giving up three runs on five hits.
Failing to factor into the decision for the Maroon and Gold, Hernandez went 4.1 innings in a starting role, giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
The B-CU offense was powered by Middleton and Bond, each going 4-for-5 at the plate. Middleton scored three times while driving in three runs. Bond scored once and drove in four. Meanwhile, Sims and Rodriguez added two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
GAME TWO: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 3, SAVANNAH STATE 0
Sophomore right-hander Tyler Norris tallied his second complete-game effort of the year for Bethune-Cookman, as he kept visiting Savannah State scoreless in leading his team to a 3-0 win in the nightcap of a MEAC doubleheader at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Norris, a native of Coral Springs, Florida, picked up his second complete-game MEAC effort of the campaign – the first since defeating North Carolina Central in Durham, North Carolina on March 19.
Bethune-Cookman (13-19, 6-5 MEAC) wasted little time getting to Savannah State starter Ryan McCranie, opening the game with two runs in the opening inning.
For B-CU it was the fifth game in a row the Wildcats have scored in the first frame.
Jameel Edney reached on a fielding error charged to SSU (9-23, 4-7 MEAC) third baseman Cole Bruce. After junior designated hitter Michael Cruz was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, the inning was extended with the next batter.
B-CU's Danny Rodriguez reached on the second error of the inning by the Tigers, allowing Edney to score from second for the game's opening run. Catcher Clay Middleton would single down the line in left in the next at-bat, scoring Cruz on the play.
B-CU led 2-0 after the first inning in the books.
The Wildcats scored the final run of the game in the fourth inning.
With runners on the corners for Josten Heron, the Miami freshman plated a RBI groundout to score Nathan Bond from third, giving B-CU the 3-0 score line.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Norris allowed just a single base runner into scoring position until the fifth inning.
Malcom Moore tripled with one out in the fifth, but Norris bounced back to strikeout Bernard Barnes, before walking pinch hitter Marcus Mitchell and hitting first baseman for the Tigers, Charles Sykes to load the bases with two outs. Norris would work his way out of danger and keep the Tigers off the scoreboard, inducing a fly ball to left off the bat of Jonathan Moore end the side.
Norris would end the game retiring the next six batters in order to pick up the win.
In the win, Norris ups his record to 4-2 on the year, as he threw the complete-game seven innings, scattering four hits, a walk and striking out a season second-best nine batters. It was the most since fanning 11 in his season-opener against Murray State.
The loss went to SSU starter McCranie who also worked the entire way. He dropped his record at 1-3 in the year, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and a strikeout.
B-CU was led at the plate by Rodriguez with two hits in three trips. Middleton added a RBI on a hit, and teammate Heron plated a run on a hit as well.
The two teams meet again Sunday for the final game of the series back at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Game time is set for 1 p.m. Admission is free.
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