DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daniel Gaviria pitched a complete-game shutout Sunday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman finished off a four-game series sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne by way of a 10-0 win at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. For the Wildcats, this matches the best start for the program since opening the 2017 season at 6-2 – the same season in which the Cats made it to the final of the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional.
 
Daniel Gaviria, a junior from Orlando, Florida, worked fast on the mound, never allowing batters to settle before his delivery. In fact, he had three innings where he used just six or seven pitches to retire the side.
 
Bethune-Cookman (6-2) got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, finally getting to Purdue Fort Wayne starter Mac Ayres.
 
After second baseman Colton Olasin walked and stole second, third baseman Luis Tuero delivered an RBI single to straightaway center field to score Olasin for the game's opening run. Tuero would later score courtesy an error charged to the Purdue Fort Wayne (1-7) infield, as third baseman Luke Miles' throw to first was off-target.
 
With the Wildcats holding a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth inning, the Maroon and Gold stretched the lead with four additional runs during the home-half of the frame.
 
Olasin, a senior from Spring Hill, Florida, singled up the middle to score Jason Hodges, before Tuero walked to load the bases with one out. Junior centerfielder Jeremiah Guzman appropriately registered a three-run double to left field that pushed the Wildcats advantage up to 6-0.
 
That closed the book on Ayres for the Mastodons, as he worked 3.2 innings on the bump, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, three walks and striking out five batters.
 
BCU was back at it in the sixth inning with three runs added to the scoreboard to stretch the lead at 9-0.
 
With Jeremy Garcia and Olasin working their way aboard to begin the at-bat, Tuero laced a double down the right field line to plate both base runners and give the Wildcats an 8-0 lead. He would later score himself courtesy an RBI double to center from Robert Moya.
 
The Cats added a run off a wild pitch in the seventh.
 
Gaviria (1-0) worked the complete nine innings for his first decision of the year, as he scattered three hits and struck out five in collecting the shutout.
 
In the loss for PFW, Ayres fell to 0-1 on the year.
 
Brendan Reid, Mike Madura and Colin Bauer each threw an inning or more down the stretch to complete the game for the Mastodons.
 
BCU was led at the dish by Tuero's 3-for-3 afternoon in which he added three RBIs and three runs. Guzman was 2-for-4 with three RBIs as well.
 
Bethune-Cookman is back in action Tuesday, Feb. 28, when the Wildcats welcome red hot UCF to Jackie Robinson Ballpark at 6 p.m. The Knights have begun the season with a three-game series sweep of Siena, followed by a series win over Clemson on the road in South Carolina.
 
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