CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Tyler Norris went six strong innings on the mound Saturday night, setting the tone for Bethune-Cookman to take a 7-3 victory from the University of Miami in non-conference baseball action at Mark Light Field. With the win, Bethune-Cookman evens the series a night after suffering a tough 6-5 defeat against the Hurricanes.
 
It was a Tyler Norris kind of night for the visiting Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. In his return home to south Florida, the junior right-hander delivered a memorable performance as BCU grabbed another signature win in a season filled with big wins for sixth-year head coach Jason Beverlin and his staff.
 
Bethune-Cookman (27-22) struck first with a run in the top of the second inning.
 
Sophomore centerfielder Josten Heron lined a shot to the first base side that was mishandled by normally sure-handed Miami first baseman Christopher Barr, allowing senior designated hitter Austin Garcia to score from second base.
 
That gave the Wildcats the early 1-0 lead.
 
But it was the third inning that allowed the Maroon and Gold to stake a commanding five-run lead, with the Wildcats plating four runs and eventually chasing Miami starter Michael Mediavilla from the bump.
 
The first three batters reached via base hit to begin the frame, followed by a sac fly from Garcia that allowed BCU junior left fielder Adonis Lao to scamper in from third. An error on the ensuing play by Barr would see third baseman Jameel Edney score from third, putting BCU up 3-0 at the time.
 
Moments later, a double from second baseman Nate Sterijevski crossed two Wildcats in the form of Kyle Corbin and Danny Rodriguez, advancing the BCU lead at 5-0.
 
A one-out home run from Edney in the fourth inning pushed the BCU lead at 6-0, as the West Palm Beach, Florida junior collected his third round-tripper of the year off Miami's opening day starter Jesse Lepore.
 
Miami (23-23) would eventually bring back a pair of runs in the home-half of the fifth, bringing the Hurricanes to within a 5-2 deficit.
 
But it was in the eighth inning that Edney struck again, this time with a RBI single to left field that saw Heron score easily and give the Wildcats a 7-2 advantage.
 
The Hurricanes scored the game's final run in the bottom of the frame to bring the score to the final 7-3 decision.
 
The win went to Tyler Norris (6-1), as the Coral Springs, Florida native went 6.1 innings on the mound, giving up just two runs on two hits scattered. He did walk five batters, but he also struck out four batters as well. Alexis Herrera, one of several Dade/Broward County players for the Wildcats returning to south Florida, pitched 1.2 innings out of the bullpen. And it was TJ Densmore finishing the game in the ninth on the hill.
 
The loss went to Miami starter Mediavilla, dropping his record at 4-5 on the year. He went just 2.2 innings for the Canes, giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
 
The BCU offense was paced by Edney's 3-for-5 effort, including his solo home run. He added two RBIs and two runs. Behind him were Lao and first baseman Danny Rodriguez with two hits apiece. Both runners also scored once.
 
Bethune-Cookman and Miami meet on Sunday afternoon for the rubber match of the three-game set back at Mark Light Field with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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