DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Baseball collected a pair of back-to-back extra-inning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) wins on Saturday inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Wildcats defeated North Carolina Central with a 2-1 decision in 11 innings to begin the day, followed by a 3-2 win over the Eagles in eight innings during the nightcap.
GAME ONE: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 2, N.C. CENTRAL 1 (11 INNINGS)
Freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez delivered a bases loaded, two-out single to short, pushing across classmate Josten Heron for the game-winning, walk-off run to help homestanding Bethune-Cookman claw past North Carolina Central, 2-1 in 11 innings at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida. The game was the opener of a doubleheader between the two teams in a three-game conference set.
North Carolina Central (21-20, 8-8 MEAC) opened the game with an unearned run in the opening half-inning.
Third baseman Ellington Hopkins led things off with a single, followed by second baseman Trevor Thiessen reaching on a fielding error charged to the Bethune-Cookman (17-22, 10-6 MEAC) infield. Zachary Marszal registered a two-out RBI single to right field, allowing Hopkins to come around for the game's opening score.
NCCU led 1-0 through the first five-and-a-half innings.
The Wildcats finally solved Dandridge in the home-half of the fifth when redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims recorded his second home run in back-to-back games, powering a shot over the wall in left and tying the game at 1-all.
Pitching highlighted the opening game of the series as Bethune-Cookman starter Tyler Norris and NCCU ace hurler Alex Dandridge went toe-to-toe for much of the contest. However, neither starter would get the decision.
However, for Norris, a native of Coral Springs, Florida, he was as dominant as ever on the year with the quality start. After the unearned run in the opening frame, Norris scattered five hits, walked one and fanned four through seven complete innings without factoring into the decision.
From there, Bethune-Cookman would use five relief pitchers to keep the Eagles without another run through the next four innings. Charles Eytel would go the longest in relief work for the Maroon and Gold on the bump, tossing 1.1 innings and picking up a strikeout with a single hit allowed.
Before the 11th inning walk-off hit, Bethune-Cookman had a previous chance for the win in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Junior designated hitter Michael Cruz was hit by a pitch from NCCU reliever Jamar Hint to start the Wildcats at-bat, followed by an immediate change on the mound from the Eagles in turn for James Dey. After a double play turned by the visitors from Durham, North Carolina, redshirt junior catcher Clay Middleton punched a double to right, followed by an intention walk to senior right fielder Nathan Bond. The move by the Eagles paid off as Brandon Wilkes reached on a fielder's choice, allowing the Eagles infield to get the force out at second and head to the 11th inning.
The win went to Alexis Herrera on the mound for the Cats, pushing him to 1-0 on the campaign out of the bullpen. The sophomore from Miami worked just a third of an inning, but collected the victory. Meanwhile, the loss went to NCCU's James Dey, dropping his record at 0-1 on the year.
The Wildcats offense was led by Bond with a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the dish. Middleton, Sims and Rodriguez each registered two hits apiece, while it was Rodriguez and Sims, respectfully, collecting RBI hits in the victory.
GAME TWO: BETHUNE-COOKMAN 3 N.C. CENTRAL 2 (8 INNINGS)
Senior right fielder Nathan Bond drove a one-out double deep to the wall in center field, plating catcher Michael Cruz for the game-winning run, and allowing Bethune-Cookman to secure the series victory with a 3-2 decision in eight innings at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The walk-off win was the second of its kind on the day for the Wildcats.
For the second time on the day, North Carolina Central (21-21, 8-9 MEAC) took the early lead in the game.
Leadoff man for the Eagles Ellington Hopkins started things off with a single, and later came around to score courtesy an error charged to the B-CU infield. Hopkins slowed up rounding third, but saw B-CU shortstop Demetrius Sims was on the ground with the ball still in his glove, allowing the Eagles to eventually take the 1-0 lead.
The lead would swell to a 2-0 advantage for the Eagles in the third inning when centerfielder Carlos Ortiz plated Trevor Thiessen with a single to right. Ortiz would end up on the third in the play as the throw from Nathan Bond in right was wide of catcher Michael Cruz, going to the backstop and prompting the official to give him third base.
Bethune-Cookman (18-22, 11-6 MEAC) would bring a run back in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cruz walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch from NCCU hard-throwing starter Andrew Vernon. Cruz, a native of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, would come around to score four plays later off the bat of a Demetrius Sims RBI single to shallow center field.
The Wildcats trailed, 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
That's where B-CU would even the game at 2-all courtesy back-to-back hit to begin the Wildcats at-bat. Freshman Danny Rodriguez would plate Cruz from second, after the B-CU catcher doubled to begin the bottom-half of the frame.
North Carolina Central would finally pull Vernon with the game heading to the bottom of the eighth, and the hard-throwing right-hander having tossed 114 pitches to that point.
Working for the second time late in the game on the day, Justice Sampson toed the rubber for the Eagles.
Cruz was hit by a pitch to start, followed by José Carballo's sacrifice bunt to move the catcher to second base. That's when Bond drove the ball over the head of NCCU centerfielder Ortiz for the game-winning RBI double.
Freshman right-hander Tyler Krull was dominant in the no-decision in his second start of the year. The rookie from West Palm Beach, Florida threw seven complete innings, scattering six hits, allowing two runs (one earned), a walk and striking out four.
The win went to senior Alex Seibold out of the bullpen for the Wildcats. In the victory, he moves to 2-4 on the campaign after tossing a single inning, and striking out a batter without surrendering a hit. The loss was to Justice Sampson, dropping him to 3-2 on the campaign. Sampson worked 0.1 inning, allowing a hit and the game-winning run.
B-CU was led at the plate by Bond who was 2-for-2, and teammate Sims was 2-for-3, respectfully. Sims, Bond and Rodriguez added a RBI hit each.
The two teams will meet Sunday, April 24, at 1 p.m., for the final game of the series. Prior to the contest, seven Bethune-Cookman student-athletes will be honors for Senior Appreciation Day. Nathan Bond, Clint Clymer, José Carballo, German Hernandez, Juan Pizarro, Rakeem Quinn and Alex Seibold will all play their final home game for the Maroon and Gold at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
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