FORT MYERS, Fla. – Three Bethune-Cookman players collected multi-hit performances Sunday afternoon, but it was just short as the Wildcats dropped the rubber game of a three-game set at Florida Gulf Coast, 8-3 at Swanson Stadium. In the loss, Bethune-Cookman drops its first series of the year as the Eagles took the last two games of the weekend.
 
Florida Gulf Coast (6-2) was able to get to Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Anthony Maldonado early-on.
 
The Eagles chased the rookie right-hander after two innings, with the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, three walks and a strikeout.
 
FGCU would add another two runs on junior transfer reliever Adonis Lao to bump the lead out to 5-0 after four innings played.
 
Bethune-Cookman (4-2) got on the board in the top-half of the fifth inning using a Josten Heron RBI double to the gap in left center that allowed freshman Bobby Stewart to score from second. Stewart reached earlier in the frame with a single inside the bag at third.
 
That cut into the Florida Gulf Coast advantage, 5-1.
 
However, the homestanding Eagles added three runs across the fifth and sixth innings, respectfully, with the scoring highlighted by a Julio Gonzalez RBI single in the sixth. The FGCU shortstop would finish the game 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and his sixth inning run driven in.
 
The Wildcats would not go quietly, as the Maroon and Gold attempted to rally in the latter stages of the game.
 
In the seventh, redshirt junior shortstop Demetrius Sims worked his way aboard being hit by a pitch from FGCU reliever Garrett Anderson. Sims, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, came around to score two players later courtesy a Joseph Maestu single through the right side.
 
\With the score sitting at 8-2 in favor of FGCU, the Cats added another run in the eighth when third baseman Jameel Edney doubled and later scored off the bat of designated hitter Austin Garcia.
 
The win went to FGCU's Josh Dye on the mound, upping his record at 2-0 for the season. The starter worked six frames, allowing a single run and scattering six hits with four strikeouts and a walk. In relief efforts, Anderson went the final three frames for the save – his second of the year, allowing a pair of runs on four hits and collecting four strikeouts.
 
Maldonado took the loss for the Wildcats, evening his record at 1-1 on the campaign. Joseph Calamita, Brady Norris, Sam Brooks and Alexis Herrera teamed to work the final 2.2 innings out of the Cats bullpen, allowing just one hit and picking up two strikeouts, collectively.
 
The FGCU offense was paced by third baseman Richie Garcia with three hits in five at-bats, adding a run and a RBI.
 
BCU leaned on Edney, Heron and Danny Rodriguez for two hits each, while it was Garcia, Maestu and Heron supplying the RBIs.
 
Bethune-Cookman hosts Stetson in its next matchup taking place Tuesday at 6 p.m., at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
 
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