DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- Bethune-Cookman stranded 22 baserunners over two games as the Wildcats dropped 
 


GAME ONE - Northwestern 10, B-CU 5 
The Wildcats (4-6 , 0-0 SWAC) jumped on the board first in game one with a run in each of the first two innings. In the first, it was Jorge Gonzalez Febo, whose groundout scored Garrett Chun. B-CU loaded the bases in the first, but a flyout ended the threat.

B-CU added another run an inning later as Daniel Figueroa stole home after Chun baited the Northwestern defense on a steal attempt, opening the door for the score. 

Northwestern (4-5, 0-0 Big Ten) cracked the scoreboard in the fifth. returning the favor to B-CU as the runner, Marty Kaplan, came home from third on a steal attempt between first and second.

Northwestern took its first lead of the game in the sixth as Griffin Arnone reached on an error and scored on an RBI double from Trent Liolios, forcing the Wildcats to turn to the bullpen. On the first pitch Owen McElfatrick saw from the B-CU pen, he went yard to score two more. 

That was not all for Northwestern in the inning, as a two-out single, steal, and single gave the visiting Wildcats a 5-2 advantage.

Bethune Cookman one run back in the home half of the sixth as Jayme Villafane single to right, driving in Peter Vazquez to make it 5-3. The trailing runner, Ramses Cordova, was tagged out attempting to score as well.  

The bottom of the ninth was eventful for Bethune-Cookman, as the Wildcats tied things up at 5-5 on RBIs from Figueroa and Garrett Chun. With a runner on third and only one away, two straight shallow fly balls forced the game into extras tied at 5-5. 

Northwestern wasted no time in the tenth, plating five runs in the tenth. Bethune-Cookman could not muster a response as they fell, 10-5.

Marcos Gamboa took a no-decision in his longest outing of the 2024 season thus far. In 5.1 innings, he allowed three runs - two earned - on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Colby Lipovsky worked 3.2 innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on five hits with two walks and three punchouts.

Pablo Torres took the loss, allowing five runs in an inning of work on four hits with three walks. 

GAME ONE - Northwestern 8, B-CU 4 
It was Northwestern in front first in game two of the doubleheader following a bit of a rain delay, as Tony Livermore singled home Bennet Markinson, who reached on an error to lead off the inning. Joshua Ramos made it 2-0 after driving in Griffin Mills.

The Wildcats pulled another trick off on the base paths in the bottom of the third as Figueroa was once again credited with a steal of home as Chun threatened the steal of second to catch the Northwestern defense off guard. 

Northwestern added three more to make it 5-1 in the fourth on a double, fielder's choice, and foulout, followed by a an RBI double by Griffin Arnone and a Vince Bianchina sacrifice fly. 

B-CU put two runners in scoring position in the fourth before a fielders choice cut down the runner trying to score.

In the sixth, Bethune-Cookman cut the deficit to 5-2, as Villafane walked in a run. A swinging strikeout ended any further threat for the Wildcats, who left the bases stranded.

Northwestern took that run back an inning later, as McElfatrick doubled to left center, scoring Arnone to make it 6-2.

More runners could not come around to score as a flyout left the bases jammed once again in the seventh for B-CU. 

The Wildcats cut it to 6-4 in the eighth as Chun singled home Villafane and Figueroa.

Down just two runs in the ninth, B-CU could not keep things in striking distance, as Northwestern posted two more in the ninth to make it 8-4. Despite one more baserunner in the bottom of the inning, that would be all for B-CU in the 8-4 defeat.

Daniel Gaviria took the loss in the series finale. He allowed five runs - four earned - on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. 

Patrick Groark, Yoansell Diaz, and Carlos Jazmin finished things off out of the pen for B-CU. 

• Garrett Chun enjoyed a strong Saturday, going 4-9 with three RBI, a run scored, and a walk. He has a team-high four multi-RBI games and six multi-hit games through 11 games thus far.
• Sergio Rivera's on-base streak reaches 11 straight to start his B-CU career.
• Jose Gonzalez has reached base in nine straight.
• Irvin Escobar exits the weekend riding a six-game hit streak. 

Next up for the Wildcats is a rematch of the first midweeker of the season. B-CU will head down to Miami to take on FIU, who they defeated, 10-4, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark back on Feb. 20. First pith is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.

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