SANFORD, Fla. – Jameel Edney and Nate Sterijevski each tallied home runs Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball doubleheader with in-state foe Florida A&M at Sanford Memorial Stadium. FAMU took the opener, 9-5, before the Wildcats answered with a 5-2 win in the nightcap.
 
GAME ONE: FAMU 9, BCU 5
A three-run eighth inning was the turning point Saturday afternoon as Florida A&M took a 9-5 win over Bethune-Cookman in the first game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) baseball doubleheader at Sanford Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon in Sanford, Florida.
 
Florida A&M (15-21, 8-4 MEAC) broke open a pitcher's duel between BCU's Tyler Norris and the Rattlers' Thomas Nicoll in the top of the fifth inning. The visiting Rattlers used an error charged to Wildcats shortstop Nate Sterijevski to eventually score four runs in the frame for the 4-0 lead.
 
Bethune-Cookman (13-21, 7-6 MEAC) respondeJameel Edneyee-run bottom of the fifth.
 
After Jordan Stacy and Jameel Edney drew walks in their at-bats, redshirt sophomore first baseman Chase DeBonis sent out his first home run of the year with a three-run shot to left field in order to cut the deficit, 4-3.
 
The Rattlers would increase their lead at 5-3 in the top of the sixth as catcher Brett Maxwell scored on a fielding error charged to BCU starting pitcher Tyler Norris.
 
It was in the eighth inning that a sac fly from Maxwell scored John Capra, followed moments later by a two-run homer from Octavien Moyer to put the FAMU lead at 8-3.
 
Trailing 9-3 in the bottom of the ninthJameel Edneyts tried to rally with a pair of runs as senior second baseman Jameel Edney pounded out his fourth home run of the year with a two-run round-trip shot to left center that also scored Giovany Lorenzo.
 
The win was picked up by FAMU starter Nicoll (2-6) as he worked seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits, and two walks. He also registered a game-high seven strikeouts. The loss went to Tyler Norris ( 2-5) as he went seven innings on the bump for the Cats, being tagged for five unearned runs on seven hits and collecting a pair of strikeouts.
 
The BCU offense was paced by six players with a hit apiece, including the home runs from Edney and DeBonis. Edney was 1-for-3 in the game, followed by DeBonis' 1-for-4 effort.
 
GAME TWO: BCU 5, FAMU 2
SoJameel Edneyher Anthony Maldonado recorded a quality start while teammates Jameel Edney and Nate Sterijevski each went yard to help Bethune-Cookman even the series with Florida A&M on the strength of a 5-2 victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader at Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida.
 
Florida A&M (15-22, 8-5 MEAC) took the lead first in the top of the first inning when Jacky Miles Jr. collected his third home run of the year with a two-out shot to left.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-21, 8-6 MEAC) quickly responded in the bottom of the inning when Nate Sterijevski sent out his third homer of the season with a one-out bomb to left, evening the game at 1-all.
 
The Rattlers stepped back in front in the top of fourth as Miles Jr. led off the inning with a homer – his second of the game and fourth of the season, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.
 
But it was in the bottom of the inning that Bethune-Cookman really got going.
 
Jordan Stacy singlJameel Edneyddle to score Sterijevski and tie the game at 2-2.
 
Jameel Edney would put out his second home run of the day with a two-run homer to left that brought around Joseph Fernando (pinch running for Stacy). That put BCU on top for the first time in either game of the day, 4-2. Giovany Lorenzo would double in the next at-bat, followed by a RBI single to left center from Chase DeBonis, giving the Maroon and Gold a 5-2 advantage.
 
The Rattlers would threaten in the sixth when they loaded the bases with just one out. BCU acting head coach Barrett Shaft went to the bullpen for senior Ivan Coutinho who entered the game and got the next two batters in order to retire the side and end the threat.
 
The win went to Anthony Maldonado (4-2) as the tall, right-hander worked 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits scattered, walked three and struck out five. The save went to Coutinho as he pitched the final 1.2 innings, not surrendering a hit and striking out one for his fourth save of the campaign.
 
Meanwhile, the loss was credited to FAMU starter Ryan Anderson (2-4) as he went just 3.2 frames on the bump, giving up five runs on six hits, and striking out a batter.
 
BCU was led at the dish by Sterijevski's perfect 3-for-3 game as he added two runs and a RBI. Edney was 1-for-2 with the homer, scoring one and driving in a pair.
 
The rubber game of the series will take place Sunday, April 15, at 11 a.m. The game will be played back at Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida.
 
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