DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Danny Rodriguez delivered his fifth home run of the year while teammate Nate Sterijevski hit his second, helping Bethune-Cookman to a 9-6 series-clinching victory over North Carolina A&T in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball action on Sunday inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
With North Carolina A&T (21-21, 11-7 MEAC) getting on the board first on the strength of a one-out solo home run from third baseman Milton Rivera, Bethune-Cookman quickly answered with four runs in the home-half of the inning.
 
Bethune-Cookman got to Aggies starting pitcher Kaeson Wilson early-on as leadoff man Demetrius Sims singled and advanced to second on an error charged to the N.C. A&T outfield. Following a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Corbin and a walk drawn by Jameel Edney, Sims would score from third courtesy a passed ball for the Maroon and Gold's first run of the afternoon.
 
The Wildcats (25-20, 12-8 MEAC) would take the lead when junior designated hitter Adonis Lao doubled to left center, allowing Corbin to score the go-ahead run. Second baseman Nate Sterijevski then punched out a two-run homer clear of the wall in left field, advancing the BCU lead, 4-1.
 
The Aggies pulled a run back in the top of the third before BCU used a Chase DeBonis sac fly to right that plated first baseman Danny Rodriguez.
 
Bethune-Cookman led 5-2 after three innings.
 
In the home-half of the fourth, two North Carolina A&T errors set the stage for a three-run Wildcats at-bat.
 
Sophomore centerfielder Josten Heron scored when left fielder Cole Parks registered a sacrifice fly to right, while third baseman Edney plated Sims on a single to left off Aggies reliever Josh Bottenfield. The final run scored when Rodriguez recorded a RBI groundout that crossed Lao unearned from third.
 
Bethune-Cookman would carry an 8-2 lead into the seventh when Rodriguez – the 2017 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, lifted his team-high matching fifth home run of the campaign in leadoff fashion with a shot over the left centerfield wall.
 
With the Cats holding onto a 9-2 advantage, N.C. A&T scored four runs in the top of the eighth in order to close the gap. BCU junior closer Ivan Coutinho would enter the game with three men aboard, eventually getting the three outs and earning his sixth save of the season after a scoreless ninth.
 
The win went to Wildcats starter sophomore Tyler Krull, improving his record at 5-1 on the year. The West Palm Beach, Florida native worked 5.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Coutinho closed the final two innings with three strikeouts, while junior Joseph Calamita tossed 1.2 innings between the two.
 
Wilson accepted the loss for N.C. A&T, dropping his record on the year to 4-6. The right-hander went 3.1 innings on the bump, giving up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits, adding two walks and two strikeouts.
 
BCU was led offensively by Rodriguez and Lao with a pair of hits each. Rodriguez and Sterijevski each has two RBIs, respectfully.
 
Bethune-Cookman travels to Stetson on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
 
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