DeLAND, Fla. – The best start of freshman Alec Mendez's young career was spoiled by a late offense surge as Stetson took a 10-3 ballgame over Bethune-Cookman Tuesday at Melching Field at Conrad Park.

Mendez (0-3) took a tough-luck loss in which he did not allow an earned run until pinch-hitter Eric Foggo's chopper was just out of shortstop Nate Sterijevski's reach for a two-run single.

Prior to that, the Wellington High School product pitched five shutout innings. He allowed an unearned run to score in the sixth.

His best appearance of the season finished with seven innings, four hits, two earned runs, a walk, and five strikeouts.

BCU (13-21) took the first lead of the game of SU (15-17) starter Bret Neilan with a pair of runs in the fifth. Joe Fernando smacked a double to deep left-center to lead off the inning, and Danny Rodriguez drove him home with a single. After a Silas Grinstead sacrifice bunt, Josten Heron's RBI single gave BCU a 2-0 lead.

The Hatter scored seven runs in the eighth to seal the victory. Mitchell Senger (1-3) gained the win with a 4-6-3 double play in the seventh for his only outs.

Brady Van Hook drove in the Wildcats' final run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Khalil Smith scored after reaching on a single, the freshman's first career base knock.

BCU has a quick turnaround tomorrow at USF with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch in Tampa.

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