SALISBURY, Md. – Bethune-Cookman hit five home runs on Friday morning as the Wildcats defeated Norfolk State, 16-6 in order to advance to the championship series of the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Tournament at A.W. Perdue Stadium. The game ended after seven innings with the run-rule decision in effect for all games, except the title series.
 
In a meeting between the league's top seeds from the North and South, respectively, Bethune-Cookman (32-23) was able to get to Norfolk State starting pitcher Alex Mauricio early in the contest. That set the tone for the day as the Wildcats bats were explosive, but the Norfolk State defense was unable to help out the starting right-hander.
 
Leadoff man Demetrius Sims reached in the first at-bat of the game on a dropped fly by Norfolk State right fielder Tony Leite, and he was brought home two plays later off the end of a Jameel Edney run-scoring triple. The lead increased to 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats when senior designated hitter Austin Garcia laced a RBI single through the left side to cross Edney.
 
It was in the top-half of the second inning that Bethune-Cookman really got going, as the Wildcats sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on six hits during the frame. However, almost all of the runs were unearned to the Norfolk State starter due to a three-run scoring error charged to the NSU outfield.
 
After All-MEAC left fielder Adonis Lao singled back to the mound to load the bases for the Maroon and Gold, fellow all-conference first team selection Danny Rodriguez cleared the bases courtesy a dropped fly at the wall by left fielder Brian Beard.
 
That pushed the BCU lead up to 6-0.
 
Austin Garcia would register the first of his game-high matching two home runs on the next play, scoring two with a shot to left. BCU redshirt freshman catcher Chase DeBonis would drive in two moments later with his single through the left side, ending the day on the hill for the Spartans' Mauricio.
 
Bethune-Cookman carried a 10-0 lead into the top of the third inning.
 
In the top of the third, the Cats added a pair of runs when Rodriguez collected his second home run of the tournament – his first of the day, to increase the BCU lead at 12-0. For the Pembroke Pines, Florida native, the homer was his fourth in two five games across the last two seasons at Perdue Stadium.
 
Norfolk State (25-21) would finally get to BCU starter All-MEAC selection Tyler Norris in the bottom of the fourth, as the Coral Springs, Florida right-hander gave up three runs in the frame to cut into the lead at 12-3.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Rodriguez and Garcia each tallied their second home runs of the day, respectfully, with back-to-back shots to put BCU back up by the run-rule count, 14-3.
 
NSU pulled a run back in the home-half of the sixth with reserve catcher Chris Ford knocking in third baseman Justin Burrell to chip into the BCU lead, 14-4.
 
However, last season's MEAC title game hero Jameel Edney struck for his first home run of the 2017 MEAC Tournament with a two-run homer clear the wall in left center that also scored reserve left fielder Cole Parks. Parks would double inside the bag at third to kick off the seventh inning.
 
With the Cats lead 16-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans loaded the bases on BCU freshman relief pitcher Isaak Gutierrez. The Spartans struck for two runs in the frame, before freshman Bobby Stewart collected the final out of the contest to give BCU the 16-6 game-winning decision.
 
The win went to Norris, bumping his record to 8-1 on the year. The junior went six innings on the hill, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked three and added a strikeout as well.
 
The loss went to NSU's Mauricio, evening his record at 4-4 on the year. He worked just 1.2 innings, giving up 10 runs, but just two of those earned. He was touched for seven hits, adding three walks on the day.
 
The BCU offense was paced by four Wildcats earning double-digit hits, including a 3-for-5 effort from Garcia, adding his two home runs. Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with both hits leaving the ballpark. Edney finished 2-for-3 with a round tripper, while teammate and second baseman Nate Sterijevski was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
 
Bethune-Cookman will play the winner of Friday night's game between Norfolk State and an opponent yet to be determined. The MEAC Championship game begins Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
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