DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Nate Sterijevski came through with a walkoff RBI single to plate pinch-runner Boston Heron in the home half of the 12th inning to give Bethune-Cookman (9-15, 4-5 MEAC) a 4-3 series-clinching victory against North Carolina A&T State University Sunday afternoon at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The frame began when Ian Claudio singled to left off Aggie P.J. Strikeleather (1-1). Heron stepped in to pinch-run and promptly swiped second base. Then, down with an 0-2 count, Sterijevski gave the Wildcats a series win with his single into right. It was the second hit and RBI of the day for the shortstop, who was only outdone at the plate by teammate Ian Claudio's 3-5, 2 RBI afternoon.

Branden Frank (1-0) was one of three BCU relievers to keep the Aggies (9-14, 2-4) off the board. Frank pitched the 12th inning with one hit, no walks, and one strikeout. He followed the work of Ivan Coutinho's stellar four innings. Coutinho totaled six punch-outs, two walks, and only one hit in 51 pitches. 

The day began with the Aggies drawing first blood of Wildcat starter Tyler Krull. Myles Sowell doubled down the left field line, then reached third on a Greg White fly out. Adan Ordonez drove in the first run of the day with a sacrifice fly to center field. 

Cleanup batter Zach McClean reached on a fielding error, and then moved to second on an AJ Hunt single up the middle. Camden Williamson doubled to right field that allowed McLean to score, but a Dawnoven Smith groundout ended the action.

From there, Krull kept the Aggies quiet until the seventh. After a leadoff single back to the mound by Forest Kimbrell, Jeremy Adams stepped in relief. Krull was charged with his final run when later in the inning White singled in Kimbrell. Krull's final line: six innings, five hits, three runs, two earned, a walk, and no strikeouts.

Prior to Sterijevski's 12th inning heroics, the Wildcats scored in one other inning in a three-run fifth. Aggie starter Michael Johnson's troublesome inning began with a Kyle Corbin single, Chase DeBonis hit-by-pitch, and Michael Deeb reached via an error to load the bags. Claudio singled to score two and tie the game. Sterijevksi then gave the Maroon and Gold the lead with an RBI single to shortstop that plated Deep on an unearned run. 

Johnson went 5.2 innings with six hits, three runs, two earned, a walk, and two strikeouts in a no-decision. A&T reliever Josh Bottenfield worked a clean 1.1 innings before Strikeleather threw the final four frames. Strikeleather was saddled with the loss with his one run allowed off five hits in four innings. He struck out three without allowing a walk.

The Wildcats out-hit the Aggies, 11-8, and committed one error to A&T's three. The two RBI for Sterijevski brought his season total to 13, one behind Zach Spivey for the team lead. Frank's relief win was his first victory in his BCU career after joining the program following two seasons at Madison College (Wis.).

Bethune-Cookman remains at home and will host Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, Mar. 27 at 4 p.m.

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