DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the third time in as many games, Bethune-Cookman collected a win over North Carolina Central in walk-off fashion in extra innings, as the Wildcats swept a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball series from the Eagles with a 5-4 decision in 12 innings on Sunday at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
With the game tied at 4-all in the bottom of the 12th inning, sophomore third baseman Jameel Edney and junior catcher Michael Cruz collected back-to-back hits to allow Bethune-Cookman (19-22, 12-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) runners on the corners with nobody out. Appropriately enough, for the second time in the series, freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez collected the game-winning walk-off single with a laser through the left side to plate Edney for the winning score.
North Carolina Central (21-22, 8-10 MEAC) led 4-1 heading into the bottom-half of the seventh inning.
After redshirt sophomore shortstop Demetrius Sims reached and stole second, freshman centerfielder Josten Heron moved runners to the corners in the home-half of the seventh. Second baseman Nate Sterijevski plated Sims with a single to center, cutting into the NCCU lead at 4-2.
The Wildcats tied the game at 4-all in the bottom of the eighth.
NCCU reliever Jamar Hinton came in the game for the Eagles with two outs, taking over for starter Cameron Scalzo. B-CU had runners on first and second, allowing Sims to immediately draw a walk from Hinton and load the bases.
Heron then plated his second and third RBIs of the game with a single past the glove of Thomas Prospero at short, bringing around pinch runner Kyle Corbin and Cruz for the game-tying runs.
NCCU took the lead in the top-half of the third inning when catcher Conrad Kovalcik recorded his 10th home run of the year with a leadoff shot to right field.
The Eagles increased the advantage at 2-0 in the top of the fourth when Zachary Marszal scored second baseman Trevor Thiessen on a sacrifice fly to right field.
B-CU brought back a run in the home-half of the fourth, using Nathan Bond's single through the right side to score Cruz, making the score 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
NCCU would add runs in the fifth and seventh, respectfully, to make the B-CU deficit 4-1.
For Bethune-Cookman, the three consecutive walk-off decisions is the first of its kind since 2014, when the Wildcats suffered three-straight walk-off defeats at the College of Charleston – each game going to extra innings as well.
B-CU senior Alex Seibold collected the win, allowing him a 3-4 record on the year. He tossed two innings of relief action, striking out a batter and not allowing a single base runner. It was Donté Lindsay getting the start on the day, with the Cleveland junior throwing five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out five against a single walk before exiting without a decision.
In all, the B-CU bullpen allowed just one (1) run, scattering eight hits and striking out six batters in 12 innings of work on the weekend.
Meanwhile, NCCU reliever Hinton recorded the loss to even his record at 2-2 on the campaign. In the start, Scalzo worked 7.2 innings, allowed four runs on eight hits, fanned two and walked one without the decision earned.
The Bethune-Cookman offense was led by Cruz with a 3-for-5 effort, adding two runs. Edney and Heron each tallied a pair of hits, respectfully, while the latter drove in a pair of runs as well.
Prior to the game, Bethune-Cookman paid tribute to seven seniors playing their last home game for the Maroon and Gold at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Nathan Bond, José Carballo, Clint Clymer, German Hernandez, Rakeem Quinn, Juan Pizarro and Alex Seibold all had parents/friends throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Bethune-Cookman returns to the diamond Tuesday, April 26, when the Wildcats travel to the western part of Volusia County to face the Stetson Hatters at Melching Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app on all mobile devices.
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