Jackson, Miss. – Matthew Garcia homered in the sixth and eighth innings as the Wildcats took game two of a three game series at Jackson State, Saturday afternoon at Braddy Field.
 
How It Happened
 
The Wildcats (20-26, 14-9 SWAC) took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly from Christopher Patterson that scored Malik Stephens.
 
Jackson State (23-23, 10-13 SWAC)  countered in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly of its own, knotting things at 1-1. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double.
 
An error pulled the Wildcats even in the third, as Colton Olasin scored when Patterson reached first.
 
B-CU broke things open in the sixth. Malik Stephens opened the four-run frame with an RBI double that scored Jeremy Garcia. A wild pitch scored Olasin to make it 5-2.
 
Matthew Garcia sent a ball over the right field wall to make it 7-2, B-CU.
 
Two innings later, Matthew Garcia padded his stats with another bomb – this one a solo shot to finish off the 8-2 victory.
 
"This was a much-needed win for our ballclub," Wildcats head coach Jonathan Hernandez said after the game. "We need to start playing our best baseball of the season as we hit the final stretch, and I thought today we showed some of that – we just need to keep building that momentum starting with game three tomorrow."
 
"We did a great job executing offensively," Hernandez continued. "Obviously a huge day for Matthew Garcia – it was a great job by him to really give us that offensive boost we needed."
 
Hector Vazquez made the start, picking up his fifth-win of the season after a six-inning effort that saw him allow two runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
 
Joan Gonzalez earned the safe after three innings in relief to close out the contest – he allowed a hit and struck out five.
 
"Vazquez did a great job today," Hernandez said. "We needed a quality start and he did the job for us."
 
Notes

• Malik Stephens has reached safely in 17 straight games after two hits this afternoon.  
• Hector Vazquez ties Louis Lipthratt for the team lead in pitching wins.
• Garcia enjoyed a 5-3 day with the two homers, three RBI, and three runs scored.
• Matthew Garcia ties Boris Peña for the team lead in homers – This afternoon marks Garcia's second multi-homer effort this season. He last sent two over the wall at Bethune point versus Florida A&M on April 9.

Up Next

The series finale gets underway a 2 p.m. EST Sunday as the Wildcats look to secure the series win. 
 

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