DeLand, Fla.  – A thrilling afternoon at Melching Field saw the Wildcats finish off a three-game sweep in nearby DeLand as they took down Sacred Heart, 7-6 in ten innings.
 
How It Happened
 
Sacred Heart (1-8, 0-0 NEC) got to Joan Gonzalez early with a four-spot in the second inning. A close play at third kept the inning alive for the Pioneers who capitalized with three hits to take the early lead.
 
The Wildcats (5-6, 0-0 SWAC) cut into the deficit in the top of the third when Malik Stephens doubled and came around to score on a wild pitch a few batters later.
 
Sacred Heart chased Gonzalez from the game with another run in the third. Gabriel Perez came in to relieve Gonzalez, stranding two inherited runners and coasting through 6.1 scoreless innings.
 
B-CU continued to chip away in the fourth when Jeremy Garcia came around to score after a Colton Olasin steal sent an errant throw into center field.
 
The Wildcats tied things up in the sixth when Stephens sneaked his second double of the day inside the left field line to score Olasin and Garcia. Christopher Patterson drove in Stephens with a single to center to tie the game at 5-5.
 
The Wildcats would take the lead in the next frame. A pair of Pioneer errors put two runners on and an odd play saw Olasin reach first and Yoansell Diaz score on a chaotic fielder's choice.
 
They held that lead utill the ninth. With two outs and a runner on second, Ryan Donnelly singled off Perez to plate the tying run. Amir Asghar came on in relief and prevented a Pioneer walk-off.
 
It did not take long for B-CU to rectify the ninth inning. In the top of the tenth, Patterson singled through the left side, scoring Franki Febles. Brenton Fisher picked up a save with a clean frame to end it.  
 
Gonzales took a no-decision, finishing with 2.1 innings pitched, five runs, all earned, eight hits, a walk, and three strikeouts.
 
Perez was the story of the afternoon. The freshman picked up the Wildcats with 6.1 innings, allowing only two hits and an earned run with one walk and six strikeouts.

"Perez did a phenomenal job for us today," Wildcats head coach Jonathan Hernandez said after the game. "For a freshman to come in and give us that in a high leverage situation like that - I'm very proud of his effort today. He left it all out there on the field."
 
Amir Asghar got the win for B-CU after taking care of the final out in the ninth to keep the game tied at 6-6. Brenton Fisher earned his second save of the season in his second appearance in as many games.
 
Christopher Patterson, the hero of the afternoon, enjoyed a 4-5 day with a walk and two RBI. Stephens added two RBI, and Olasin one.

"We know we're going to pitch," Hernandez said. "For our offense to be able to pick up some slack when we're down five is so encouraging."

As the Wildcats prepare for the five non-conference games before SWAC play begins, Hernandez keeps his squad focused.

"We're trying to get better every day," Hernandez said. "We've got to get ready for SWAC play. These games are allowing us to see the best versions of ourselves daily." 
 
Notes

• The Wildcats stole four bases in the game
• The Wildcats totaled 24 hits on the weekend
• B-CU pitchers struck out 31 batters over the weekend.
• In his first two games since returning from his five-game absence, Christopher Patterson went 5-8 at the plate with a pair of RBI, a walk, and three steals.

 
Up Next
The Wildcats return to "The Jack" Tuesday night to host another neighboring opponent in UCF.
 
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) and www.bcuathletics.com.