JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior left fielder Adonis Lao went 4-for-6 with two runs and a RBI on Wednesday evening, but it was not enough as Bethune-Cookman fell to Jacksonville, 24-9 in non-conference baseball action at Sessions Stadium. In the loss, the Wildcats and Dolphins split the annual midweek series between the traditional Florida powers.
 
Bethune-Cookman (19-13) began the game with three runs in the opening half-inning, giving the Wildcats the early lead, 3-0.
 
Adonis Lao plated Kyle Corbin with a single up the middle for the game's opening run, while teammate Trent Nash followed with a RBI double to short that drove in Danny Rodriguez who reached earlier in the at-bat getting hit by a pitch. The final run scored when Nate Sterijevski reached on an error, allowing Lao to score unearned from third.
 
However, Jacksonville (15-16) scored nine runs in the home-half of the second, allowing the Dolphins to claim the lead – one in which they would not relinquish on the night.
 
Jacob Southern's solo home run began a one-out rally for the Dolphins, and spelled a short night for the second consecutive game for a Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher. Senior left-hander Donté Lindsay fought out of a jam in the opening frame, but was unable to sustain the hot-swinging Dolphins in the second.
 
The Wildcats chipped into the lead with three additional runs in the top of the third inning, chasing JU starter Mark Potter. The right-hander went 2.1 innings, being tagged for six runs (three earned) on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Scoring for the Cats in the third inning included Sterijevski posting a RBI single, while Josten Heron drew a bases loaded walk for his RBI to drive in the first two runs of the at-bat. Demetrius Sims' RBI groundout allowed Jordan Stacy to cross home for the final run of the half-inning, bringing the Cats to within 9-6.
 
But Jacksonville scored seven in the bottom of the inning to run the game out to a 16-6 lead in favor of the Dolphins.
 
BCU would score three more runs in the seventh to close out the scoring for the Cats in the contest.
 
Sterijevski pitched for the first time on the year in the eighth inning, recording his first strikeout of the year. Meanwhile, Ben Berggren entered the game in the seventh, while Sam Brooks toed the rubber for BCU in the sixth.
 
Joseph Calamita pitched two-thirds of an inning to close the seventh inning.
 
Lao led the Cats on offense with his four hits, RBI and two runs scored. Sterijevski added a pair of hits from both his second base and pitchers position on the field, as well as third baseman Jameel Edney picking up two hits at the dish.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play this weekend when the Wildcats travel to Savannah State for a three-game set beginning Saturday, April 8, at 1 p.m.
 
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