DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite outscoring visiting Ohio State 8-2 from the fourth inning on, and out-hitting the Buckeyes 12-9, Bethune-Cookman dug too deep of a hole in a 16-9 loss Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. BCU fell to 4-6 while Ohio State moved to 7-4.
 
The Wildcats fought until the end with a strong bottom of the ninth inning. Over Torres singled to center to bring home Danny Rodriguez, and Clarence Carter double to left that scored Torres.
 
Ohio State opened with a six-run first inning. The first three runs came without a hit, as Brady Cherry and Connor Pohl both walked in runs, and Brent Todys grabbed an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
 
Two run-producing singles and a wild pitch placed the Wildcats in an early hole, but Zach Spivey set the table in the home half of the first with a leadoff single. Two batters later, Rodriguez clubbed an RBI double and after an inning, OSU led, 6-1.
 
Bryan Melendez's start was short-lived after being pulled in favor of Joseph Strong in the second. Strong, however allowed six earned in the frame after surrendering two more to Melendez's total as OSU scored eight runs off hits to expand its lead, 14-1. 
 
BCU began chipping away. In the bottom of the fourth, Wilkes took a 2-1 offering and sent a single to left that brought home Rodriguez. Then, with Wilkes and Torres aboard, Joe Fernado belted a three-run homer over the left field wall. After two, the score was OSU 14 BSU 5.
 
The next inning saw Torres produce with two outs. The first year Wildcat hit a two-run single to centerfield and the deficit was cut in half.
 
OSU added insurance on a sixth inning wild pitch that plated Pohl and a ninth inning Nate Romans solo shot.
 
A total of nine pitchers appeared in the game as Griffan Smith picked up the win with five innings, six earned, eight hits, a walk, and four strikeouts. Bayden Root tosses 2.1 scoreless frames with four walks and six strikeouts, while Joe Gahm gave up two earned off three hits in 1.1 innings. Andrew Magno ended the comeback attempt with a strikeout of Zach Spivey in the only batter he faced.
 
Melendez (0-1) took the loss with eight earned off four hits with four walks and a strikeout in his inning of action. Strong settled in after the rocky second inning and finished with a team-high four innings of action, six earned, three hits, two walks, and three punch-outs. 
 
Ben Berggren and Jake Simon combined for three shutout innings out of the bullpen.

The Wildcats and Buckeyes meet Monday at 12 p.m. for the final of the four-game series.