DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Louis Lipthratt went six innings on the mound while Jeremy Garcia hit his first home run of the season Saturday afternoon in leading Bethune-Cookman to a series-clinching 6-5 win over Alabama State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) baseball action at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
For the third time in the series, Alabama State (10-9, 1-2 SWAC) scored the first run of the game in the top-half of the first inning. Jack Hay doubled to right in order to score Ian Matos and give the Hornets an early 1-0 lead.
 
Bethune-Cookman (10-10, 2-1 SWAC) responded to take the lead in the bottom of the second.
 
Boris Peña singled and Irvin Escobar followed with a double to put two Wildcats into scoring position from the leadoff spot. That set the stage for shortstop Jeremy Garcia to register his first home run of the season with a three-run shot over the wall in right to put BCU up 3-1.
 
ASU cut into the lead in the third inning courtesy a Randy Flores sacrifice fly to center field that was enough to bring in Jamal George from third. George doubled to lead off the frame, eventually working his way to third on a wild pitch.
 
BCU held a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Cats extended the lead at 4-2 in the home-half of the fifth when first baseman Manny Souffrain collected a sacrifice fly to left which was good enough to bring across Garret Chun. The Wildcats centerfielder reached earlier in the at-bat on a dropped fly ball by the ASU right fielder.
 
Once again, ASU chipped into the lead in the eighth inning, when the Hornets' Corey King delivered an RBI single up the middle that scored Ian Matos and brought ASU to within 4-3.
 
It would be BCU scoring two insurance runs in the home-half of the inning to put the Maroon and Gold up 6-3.
 
After Peña singled to lead off for the Cats, he advanced into scoring position off the end of a sacrifice bunt from Escobar. A throwing error by ASU shortstop Randy Flores allowed Pena to score one play later. Moments later, two-out RBI single to center from second baseman Colton Olasin would see Garcia score from second.
 
The Hornets made things interesting in the top of the ninth when Ali Lapread hit a two-run homer to straightaway center field. But BCU reliever Joan Gonzalez settled down to get Matos to strike out swinging and clinch the series.
 
Louis Lipthratt (2-1) collected the win for the Wildcats in working six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Gonzalez picked up his second save of the season in working 1.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Also seeing action on the bump was Pablo Torres, as he worked 1.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit.
 
The loss was tagged to Alabama State starter Kyler McIntosh (1-2), as he tossed three innings, allowing three runs on six hits, one walk and one strikeout. Jorhan LaBoy worked 4.1 innings in relief, giving up three unearned runs on four hits and collecting four strikeouts.
 
ASU was charged at the plate by Jayden Sloan with a 2-for-4 afternoon, while Lapread was 1-for-1 with the two-run homer.
 
BCU was led offensively by five Wildcats registering a multi-hit day, including Hylan Hall with a triple and a double. Garcia was 2-for-4 with his home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Peña was joined by Escobar and Olasin with two hits as well.
 
The Cats are back in action Tuesday, March 21, when Bethune-Cookman hosts Volusia County opponent Stetson to Jackie Robinson Ballpark at 6:30 p.m.
 
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