DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A back-and-forth contest on a rainy day in Daytona saw the Wildcats load the bases with no one out down a single run in the ninth, but nothing came across as they fell, 8-7 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.



It was Stonehill (1-2, 0-0 NEC) that got on the board first, posting a pair of runs in the first off Wildcat starter Daniel Gaviria. A single, double, and Jack Thorbahn single plated the first run of the contest, scoring Trey Ciulla-Hall and Sam Parks to make it 2-0 in a hurry. 

The Wildcats (2-1, 0-0 SWAC) were quick to answer a half-inning later, plating three unearned runs on a Skyhawk throwing error that allowed Jose Gonzalez and Garrett Chun to score before Manny Souffrain doubled home Jorge Rodriguez to give B-CU a 3-2 lead. 

After help from a dropped popup, B-CU tacked on two more in the bottom of the second on a Chun triple, scoring Daniel Figueroa and Jayme Villafane to made it 5-2. 

As the light rain subsided, the two teams worked a scoreless fourth before Stonehill posted two more in the fifth on a Parks single and Ciulla-Hall fielder's choice and Wildcat error that allowed the run to cross the plate. Yet another Wildcat error allowed Ciulla-Hall to score with two outs to put the Skyhawks in front again, 6-5. 

B-CU made quick work of that lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Sergio Rivera plated two on a single through the left side of the infield that put the Cats in front yet again. 

Stonehill grabbed runs in the seventh and eighth to head to the bottom of the ninth up, 8-7.

The Wildcats opened the ninth with a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk to load the bases with no one out. The Skyhawks made a pitching change with Rivera looming at the plate, but reliever Jordan Marot worked a three-pitch strikeout. The game came to an end as Colton Olasin grounded into a double play on the first pitch he saw, and Stonehill held on to steal the series finale. 

Daniel Gaviria made the start. He worked five innings, allowing six runs - three earned - on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Yoansell Diaz suffered the loss. He allowed two runs on two hits with two walk and three strikeouts over 2.2 innings.

Colby Lipovsky and Jeffrey Gonzalez also appeared out of the pen for the Wildcats. 

 

• Garrett Chun's torrid start to the season continued. He finished the day 3-4 with a run scored, a walk, two RBI, and two steals. He was the only Wildcat with multiple hits on the day. 
• Jorge Rodriguez scored two run despite not recording a hit or walk. 
• The Wildcats left ten men on base, Stonehill left nine. 

B-CU baseball returns to The Jack on Tuesday, Feb. 20 as they host FIU for the first midweek contest of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. 


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