DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jose Gonzalez was the difference as the Wildcats walked off Jacksonville in the final contest ahead of SWAC play Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The Wildcats (7-9, 0-0 SWAC) opened the scoring in the first as
Jayme Villafane was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a steal, and scored on a
Garrett Chun groundout that made it 1-0.
B-CU threatened again in the third, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, but a strikeout ended the frame with no damage done.
Jacksonville (5-11, 0-0 ASUN) finally answered in the top of the fifth on a single and RBI triple, followed by an RBI single that tied things at 2-2.
The Wildcats immediately pushed back, scoring a run in the bottom of the inning on a one-out
Sergio Rivera triple and a
Jose Gonzalez sacrifice fly that made it 3-2.
The Dolphins tied things up once again on a solo homer by Josh Steidl over the wall in right center.
In the bottom of the ninth, a one-out Villafane single and steal put a runner on second with one away. A groundout advanced Villafane to third, now with two away, for
Sergio Rivera.
Rivera worked a full-count walk before the Dolphins turned to closer Isaac Williams. On just the second pitch he saw, Gonzalez sent a ball into the gap in left center, scoring Villafane for the 4-3 win.
Freshman
Joel Core made the start. He tossed five innings, allowing two runs - both earned - on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Dylan Dudones was excellent in relief. He thew four innings, allowing just one earned run - the solo homer - with three walks and four strikeouts.
- Jayme Villafane and Sergio Rivera enjoyed multi-hit games for B-CU.
- Jose Gonzalez has reached base safely in 14 straight games. He collected two RBI in the win.
- B-CU stranded eight runners. Jacksonville stranded six.
- Manny Souffrain increased his team-lead in walks to 21 with two on Tuesday.
SWAC play begins for B-CU this weekend as they face Mississippi Valley State in Jackson, Miss. after a site change due to potential weather. The first game of a three-game series is set to begin on Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m. EST, but times/days are subject to change with weather.
Stay tuned to @BCUDiamondCats on Twitter and BCUAthletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding schedule changes.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (@BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics) and www.bcuathletics.com.
--#HailWildcats--