DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball doubleheader on Saturday at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Bethune-Cookman claimed the opener in run-rule fashion, 13-1, before North Carolina A&T grabbed the nightcap, 6-1.
 
GAME ONE: BCU 13, N.C. A&T 1
Freshman pitcher Anthony Maldonado went the distance on the hill, while three different Wildcats registered home runs to help Bethune-Cookman defeat North Carolina A&T by a count of 13-1 in a seven-inning, run-rule doubleheader opener at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Redshirt junior shortstop Demetrius Sims tallied his first home run of the year (the fourth of his career) in leadoff fashion for Bethune-Cookman (24-19, 11-7 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in the bottom of the first inning, and setting the stage for an offensive explosion for the Wildcats.
 
After North Carolina A&T (20-20, 10-6 MEAC) tied the game in the top of the second off the end of AJ Hunt's solo home run, Bethune-Cookman countered with a run to re-establish the lead in the bottom of the frame.
 
In the third inning, junior designated hitter Jordan Stacy lifted his fifth home run of the year with a three-run shot to left, pushing the BCU lead out to 5-1 in the process.
 
The Cats would plate another three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Kyle Corbin's RBI single scored leadoff man Josten Heron, followed two plays later by sophomore first baseman Danny Rodriguez reaching on an error. However, the error allowed Sims and Corbin each to score, advancing the Cats lead, 8-1, respectfully.
 
Heron picked up a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth that drove in second baseman Nate Sterijevski for the 9-1 BCU lead.
 
Sterijevski would return to the dish and record a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth that saw teammates Adonis Lao and Stacy scoring on the hit to the outfield wall, putting the run-rule into effect with BCU on top, 11-1. But it would be a two-run homer from catcher Chase DeBonis – his first of the season, which capped the 13-1 final score.
 
Maldonado picked up the win in order to improve his record at 6-3 on the year. The right-hander from West Palm Beach, Florida threw all seven innings, allowing just the one run on nine hits, while going on to strikeout eight in the game.
 
The loss went to N.C. A&T starter Michael Johnson, evening his record at 3-3 on the campaign. The Aggies right-hander went just three innings, being tagged for five runs on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts. Josh Strikeleather would finish the game on the bump for N.C. A&T.
 
The BCU offense was paced in the opening game by Sims from the leadoff spot with a 3-for-4 effort, adding two runs and a RBI via the homer in the first. Jameel Edney, Sterijevski and DeBonis each picked up two hits as well, including the round-tripper from the catcher DeBonis.
 
 
GAME TWO: N.C. A&T 6, BCU 1
North Carolina A&T starting pitcher Marcello Betances was nearly untouchable through six innings on the bump in the second game of a MEAC doubleheader against Bethune-Cookman, as the visiting Aggies collected a 6-1 nightcap win inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (24-20, 11-8 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) was unable to solve North Carolina A&T starting pitcher Marcello Betances, with the hard-throwing right-hander allowing just a run on one hit in his time on the mound.
 
The Aggies (21-20, 11-6 MEAC) scored runs in each of the opening two innings, highlighted by Myles Sowell RBI double in the second, in order to run out to the early advantage.
 
North Carolina A&T would score three in the top of the fourth inning, breaking the game open, 5-0.
 
Catcher Jarrett Norman plated teammate Greg White with a sac fly in the top of the fifth for the final run of the game for the Aggies.
 
BCU would cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh, using Jordan Stacy's RBI double to left in order to push across Danny Rodriguez.
 
Betances picked up the win in order to move his record out to 4-3 on the campaign.
 
The loss went to BCU starter Tyler Norris, suffering his fist setback of the year and falling to 5-1 on the season.
 
Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T will meet for the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m., back at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
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