DeLAND, Fla. – German Hernandez threw seven innings, allowing just two runs in one of his best starts of the season, as Bethune-Cookman defeated Stetson, 6-2 in non-conference baseball midweek action on Tuesday evening at Melching Field.
In just his second midweek start of the 2016 season, senior right-hander German Hernandez came up big for the Wildcats on Tuesday evening. After suffering a defeat at USF a week ago, the Cleburne, Texas native was nearly untouchable the second time out.
Bethune-Cookman (20-22) opened the game with a pair of runs in the second inning, helping ease the pressure for Hernandez on the mound early-on.
Clay Middleton and Nathan Bond collected back-to-back hits, followed by a walk drawn by Sam Brooks. That loaded the bases on Stetson (20-21) starting pitcher Jack Perkins. That allowed freshman centerfielder Josten Heron to lace a two-run scoring single past Perkins up the middle, scoring Middleton and Bond on the play.
B-CU would add to its total in the third inning, eventually chasing Perkins in just 2.2 innings worked.
Middleton plated freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez with a single to short, putting the Wildcats up, 3-0.
With two men aboard and two outs for the Wildcats, Stetson went to the bullpen in favor of Erik Wiebke.
He immediately walked Brooks, with the left fielder collecting his second consecutive base on balls. That was followed by Heron notching his second two-run single of the game, plating Middleton and Bond for the second time in as many innings.
Bethune-Cookman would lead, 6-0 heading to the home-half of the third inning.
The Hatters' Vance Vizcaino lifted a home run to deep right two batters into the at-bat, cutting into the B-CU lead at 6-2.
However, it was one of just two hits surrendered by Hernandez, as he settled down to collect a double play later in the inning.
In picking up the win, Hernandez went seven full innings, allowing two runs, scattering two hits, three walks and two strikeouts. He would draw a total of 14 ground outs in his time on the hill, running his record to 4-3 on the campaign.
Junior Zach Olszewski collected his first save of the year, working 1.1 innings and failing to allow a hit.
The loss went to Stetson's Perkins, dropping his record at 1-2 on the year. He allowed five runs on six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
The B-CU offense was led by four Wildcats with two hits apiece. But none would be bigger than Heron's pair of two-run singles, giving him two hits and four RBIs on the night. Bond, Middleton and Sterijevski each went 2-for-4 at the dish, as the latter each tallied a RBI as well.
For the Hatters, the three hits produced was their lowest since May 2014. Conversely for Bethune-Cookman, with just three hits allowed, it matches a season-low for the Cats since allowing just three against Murray State (Feb. 13).
Bethune-Cookman gets back to the field Saturday, April 30, traveling to North Carolina A&T for a three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) series in Greensboro, North Carolina. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday.
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