GREENSBORO, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman Baseball split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader at North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Wildcats dropped the opening game courtesy a 4-3 walk-off decision, before rebounding quickly to gain a much-needed 6-3 victory in the nightcap at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
GAME 1
North Carolina A&T scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, culminating with Zach McLean's walk-off single to score Shane Faulk and give the homestanding Aggies a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Bethune-Cookman in the first game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Bethune-Cookman (17-26, 11-8 MEAC) opened the game with two runs in the top of the first inning.
 
Danny Rodriguez, a junior first baseman from Pembroke Pines, Florida that has been battling a nagging injury almost the entire month of April, opened the BCU scoring account with his two-run scoring single to center field that crossed Nate Sterijevski and Kyle Corbin on the play.
 
North Carolina A&T (23-19, 10-5 MEAC) would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth inning, using a two-out solo home run from Zach McLean to bring his team back into it, 2-1.
 
However, BCU put the lead back at a two-run advantage in the top of the eighth inning.
 
The Wildcats wasted little time getting to Aggies relief pitcher Josh Bottenfield as shortstop Sterijevski led off the frame with a single to left. Following Jameel Edney's sacrifice bunt to move the Chiefland, Florida native into scoring position, Bottenfield was called for a balk to advance Sterijevski to third. Sterijevski would come in to score on the next play as Rodriguez struck out only to reach first safely with one out on an error credited to N.C. A&T first baseman McLean.
 
With BCU leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Wildcats acting head coach Barrett Shaft turned to Ivan Coutinho to try and close the door for the visitors.
 
Greg White doubled to start the Aggies at-bat, advancing to third on a passed ball from BCU catcher Chase DeBonis. An RBI single from AJ Hunt plated White to bring N.C. A&T to within 3-2. Adan Ordonez's single tied the game at 3-all as he scored Hunt, and also advanced to second on the throw trying to cut down McLean at third.
 
The win was picked up by N.C. A&T closer Leon Hunter (1-1) as he went two-thirds of an inning on the mound in the ninth. The loss went to Coutinho (3-2) as he worked a third of an inning, allowing two runs on four hits. BCU starting pitcher Tyler Norris, a senior from Coral Springs, Florida, went eight innings to collect a quality start, spreading out seven hits and allowing just two runs and striking out two, but was unable to factor into the decision.
 
The BCU offense was led by designated hitter Michael Deeb with his 2-for-3 game at the dish. Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in.
 
GAME 2
Bethune-Cookman scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally back for a 6-3 win over North Carolina A&T in the nightcap of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
After North Carolina A&T 22-21, 10-6 MEAC) scored the game's opening run in the home-half of the third inning, visiting Bethune-Cookman countered the knot the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth.
 
Danny Rodriguez doubled off N.C. A&T reliever Josh Bottenfield, allowing senior team captain and third baseman Jameel Edney to score from first base. Edney was hit by a pitch in his at-bat.
 
North Carolina A&T would begin the fifth inning with a Myles Sowell triple, followed two plays later by Greg White's RBI single that put the Aggies lead at 2-1. Dawnoven Smith's RBI groundout to short with the bases loaded allowed White to score and increase the lead, 3-1.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Bethune-Cookman (18-26, 12-8) rallied to score five runs and claim its first lead of the game.
 
Adonis Lao singled to begin the frame, eventually stealing second to work his way into scoring position. With one out, Nate Sterijevski delivered a two-run scoring home run to left center that tied the game at 3-all. For Sterijevski, the round-tripper was his fourth of the campaign.
 
With the Maroon and Gold using an error charged to the Aggies AJ Hunt at third that allowed Edney to reach base, followed by a walk issued to Rodriguez, it was Ian Claudio that put the Cats on top for good with his first home run of the year.
 
The three-run shot with two outs cleared the wall in right field, giving BCU the 6-3 advantage heading into the home-half of the frame.
 
Senior pitcher Joseph Calamita worked the seventh inning on the bump for the Wildcats, picking up his first save of the season in the process.
 
The win was collected by Anthony Maldonado for Bethune-Cookman, moving the 2018 MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year out to a 6-2 mark for the season on the hill. He went six innings on the rubber, allowing three runs on six hits, a pair of walks and striking out eight batters. The loss went to N.C. A&T reliever Josh Strikeleather (2-2) as he went 1.2 innings on the bump, being hit for five runs (four earned) on four hits, a walk and recording two strikeouts.
 
The BCU bats were paced by seven players with a hit apiece, including the home runs from Sterijevski and Claudio, respectfully.
 
Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T will conclude the series with the rubber match on Sunday back at War Memorial Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).