Baseball | March 24, 2019
Box Score DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –Bethune-Cookman was on the wrong end of an 8-7 final score in 11 innings to North Carolina A&T State Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Aggie (14-9, 5-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) right fielder Dawnoven Smith singled past third with two outs to drive in Camden Williamson in the top of the 11th. Isaak Gutierrez (0-1) was billed with the tough-luck loss with the one run off two hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Â
BCU (9-15, 3-6) had a chance to take it in extras. Chase DeBonis began the bottom of the 10th with a leadoff walk, and Zach Spivey got on after his bunt attempt was fielded and a throwing error by pitcher Roberto Negron put runners at first and second. Clarence Carter laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Brady Van Hook was intentionally walked. However, a 14-pitch at-bat ended with Nate Sterijevski grounding into a 6-4-3 double play.
The Aggies scored five in the third, but only two came earned off starter Tyler Krull. Krull went four frames with two earned runs, five hits, two walks, and a strikeout.
BCU hung a crooked number on the board in the fourth with three runs. Joe Fernando and Chase DeBonis delivered RBI singles, and leadoff batter Clarence Carter capped it with an RBI double to right center.
A&T reliever Justin Fox stranded a runner at third to end the inning, leaving Aggie starter Ethan Chavis with 3.2 innings of action and three earned runs. He gave up six hits, no walks, and had three strikeouts.
The Wildcats added four more to gain the lead in the fifth. Robert Bell scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to a run, and Chase DeBonis gave BCU the lead with a two-run single through the left side. An error at shortstop allowed Zach Spivey to reach and DeBonis to score for a 7-5 Wildcat lead.
In the sixth, Tony Mack's RBI single up the middle narrowed BCU's lead to 7-6 in favor of the hosts. The run came unearned off reliever Jordan Pinto..
Brandon Wilkes entered in the seventh and set down the Aggies with ease until the ninth. However, NCA&T loaded the bags in the ninth and a 3-2 pitch sailed outside to Camden Williamson for an RBI walk to tie the game. Dawnoven Smith rolled into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Leon Hunter (2-1) earned the win in relief with two innings of work, one hit, a walk, and a strikeout.
The Wildcats welcome Alabama A&M for a two-game series starting Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Follow 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).
