DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A banner opening day for B-CU saw the Wildcats take two convincing wins over the Stonehill Skyhawks, 7-1 and 12-1, Friday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.



GAME ONE - B-CU 7, Stonehill 1

Garrett Chun became the first B-CU baserunner 2024 as he worked a walk in bottom of the first before a double play ended an early threat for the Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 SWAC).

Stonehill (0-2, 0-0 NEC) got on the hit column in the second as first baseman Jack Thorbahn punched a single into center, but nothing came of it for the Skyhawks.

The first Wildcat run of the season was a long one as true freshman Jorge Gonzalez Febo took Skyhawk starter Aidan Sengenberger deep to the batting cages in left field for a loud home run in his first collegiate at-bat. 

The Wildcats threatened again in the bottom of the fourth as Ramses Cordova turned a single into three bases with help from a Skyhawk error, but he was left stranded on third.

B-CU plated two more an inning later, as back-to-back singles and a Daniel Figeroa sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third before Chun came through with a single through the left side to make it 3-0, Cats.

Stonehill attempted an answer in the next frame, but Wildcat starter Tanner Boccabello worked a strikeout and flyout to avoid a pair of one-out baserunners.

With Chun's single chasing the Skyhawk starter, Stonehill turned to the pen in the sixth. The Wildcats made quick work of the pen, plating two more on a Sergio Rivera single and a wild pitch that scored Cordova.

Back-to-back hits to open the top of the seventh threatened to get Stonehill on the board, as the Skyhawks proceeded to load the bases with just one out, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the threat, polishing off a scoreless outing for Boccabello.

B-CU packed on two more runs in the eighth, this time on a Chun bases-loaded walk and a Gonzalez Febo groundout that scored Colton Olasin to make it  7-0.

The Skyhawks finally crossed home plate in the top of the ninth on a bases-loaded walk after a B-CU error, but it was too little too late. 

Boccabello was credited with the win after an outstanding start to his Wildcat career. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing seven hits with no walks, and striking out seven. 


GAME TWO - B-CU 12, Stonehill 1

The first three half-innings of game two ended 1-2-3 for both sides to start game two, but the Cats pounced on the Skyhawks in the bottom of the second on a Gonzalez Febo hit-by-pitch, Manny Souffrain walk, and chaotic bunt single from Rivera that allowed two runs to score.\

B-CU tacked on another in the fourth on the team's second homer of the day, this time from Jose Gonzalez to the batting cages in left, that made it 3-0.

Another Wildcat reached third in the fifth, this time with only one out, but a strikeout and foul-out ended another B-CU threat.

The first run of game two for Stonehill came in the top of the sixth, as the Skyhawks loaded the bases with two away on a single and two walks. Another walk made 3-1, but starter Marcos Gamboa forced a groundout to prevent further damage.

The Wildcats returned the favor and then some in the next frame. Souffrain opened the bottom of the sixth with another walk before Rivera tripled down the line to make it 4-1. He came around to score on a Jimmy Gilleran balk. The next batter, Irvin Escobar got the Cats right back on the basepaths with walk. He stole second and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1, B-CU. 

The Cats added one more in the seventh on another bases-loaded walk, this time from Peter Vazquez.

B-CU broke things wide open in the eighth as they emptied the bench, batting around with RBIs from Jason Hodges, Franki Febles, Souffrain, Escobar, and Olasin. to make it a 12-1 advantage. 

Closer Pablo Torres got the ball to close out the doubleheader, using only seven pitches to strikeout the side. 

Gamboa earned his first win of the season after a 5.2 inning effort that saw him allow two hits, one run, and four walks with four strikeouts. 

 

• Garrett Chun finished opening day 205 with four walks and a team-high four RBI.
• Sergio Rivera went 4-6 with two walks and an RBI.
• Jayme Villafane went 2-3 at the plate, despite not starting either contest. 
• 14 different Wildcats recorded hits between the two games. 
• The Wildcats walked six times to 16 walks on the day.
• The Wildcats have not swept an opening series since 2020, when they took down now-SWAC foe, Alabama A&M, 8-0, 11-2, 15-7 at The Jack in 2020. That season, they also faced FIU in the subsequent midweek contest (L, 1-6).
• The last time the Wildcats swept an opening series in a non-COVID shortened year was 2017, as the Wildcats swept Boston College 2-1, 6-5, 3-2. That season, B-CU also faced FGCU in the subsequent weekend series. The Cats finished that season 36-25, won the MEAC, and went 3-2 in the Gainesville NCAA regional that season. 

The Diamond Cats return to action looking for a series sweep Saturday, weather-permitting. Start time is currently set for 11 a.m. Stay tuned to @BCUDiamondcats on Twitter for potential updates as we monitor inclement weather in Volusia County.

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