JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida scored four runs in the fifth inning on Tuesday evening, as the host Ospreys defeated Bethune-Cookman, 12-6 in non-conference baseball action at Harmon Stadium. In the win, UNF takes the midweek series against the Wildcats by winning two-of-three games on the campaign.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, North Florida (18-12) plated four runs in the half-inning stretch to take its first lead of the game – a lead it would never relinquish.
With the bases loaded and one out, Alex Merritt drew a walk from Bethune-Cookman (11-19) starting pitcher Juan Pizarro. That runs tied the ballgame, 4-4.
After Pizarro struck out the next batter looking, it was UNF centerfielder Chris Thibideau stepping up to register a three-run triple and put his team ahead, 7-4.
After the Ospreys tacked on another two runs in the sixth, Bethune-Cookman pulled back a run in the seventh inning when freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez plated his first run of the game courtesy a single down the line in left. That drove in sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney, bringing the Wildcats to within a 9-5 deficit.
However, UNF would add three runs across the next two frames, before B-CU third baseman Trent Nash was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give him a RBI, scoring Rodriguez for the final 12-6 score line.
B-CU jumped on the board first, sending across three runs in the top-half of the opening frame. For the Wildcats, it was the third time in as many games the Maroon and Gold have scored in the first inning.
Redshirt junior designated hitter Clay Middleton drove in the game's opening run with a groundout to second baseman Patrick Ervin to score Rakeem Quinn who singled to open the contest. Senior Nathan Bond then delivered a two-run scoring single to right center, bringing around teammates Rodriguez and junior catcher Michael Cruz for the 3-0 advantage.
The lead would swell to 4-0 in favor of the Cats in the next inning as Edney delivered a RBI single to right, allowing Quinn to score for the second consecutive inning. Quinn was hit by a pitch in his at-bat earlier in the frame.
UNF scored two runs in the home-half of the second inning when teammates Merritt and Corbin Olmstead scored on a fielding error charged to the Wildcats, allowing first baseman Chris Berry to reach safely in his at-bat.
The win was collected by UNF's Alex Smith (1-0) out of the bullpen, working in relief of starter Matt Vaka who tossed just two innings on the night. Smith worked 3.2 frames, scattering two hits and striking out five batters.
The loss went to Pizarro (1-2) for Bethune-Cookman. The redshirt senior right-hander from Puerto Rico was tagged for seven runs (five earned) on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings on the hill.
The UNF offense was led by catcher Keith Skinner with three hits in five at-bats, followed by Merritt with a perfect 2-for-2 showing at the plate. Merritt added two runs driven in, while scoring three times himself.
B-CU was paced offensively by Bond's 4-for-5 night, plating a pair of runs in the process. Rodriguez added a 3-for-4 night with a RBI and two runs scored.
Bethune-Cookman returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play this weekend, hosting Savannah State for a three-game stretch at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.
– @BCUDiamondCats –
