DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The rival Rattlers are in town as the Wildcats host the defending SWAC champions for a three-game set  Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. 

With the possibility of inclement weather, game times are subject to change. Stay tuned to @BCUBaseball on Twitter and BCUAthletics.com for updates. 

Tickets start at just $10. Admission is free with a student ID.



Friday-Sunday March 22-14
Opponent: Florida A&M (8-13, 3-0 SWAC)
Time: 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 1 p.m.  
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork



The speed of AJ Smith and the bat of Ramses Cordova were the difference as the Wildcats walked off their second consecutive midweeker - this time over UNF, 2-1 - Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

UNF  threatened first, loading the bases in the bottom of the second before Joel Core got a looking strikeout to escape unscathed. 

 It was Ramses Cordova putting the Wildcats  in front in the bottom of the third on a solo homer - his first of the season - over the wall in left field that made it 1-0.

The Wildcats stranded two more in the fourth and one in the fifth before the Ospreys loaded the bases once again in the sixth, scoring one run to tie things at 1-1 before a groundout prevented further damage.

Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Irvin Escobar worked a one-out single before AJ Smith took over on the basepaths as a pinch runner. After a UNF pitching change, Smith advanced to second on a wild pitch. 

With two away, Cordova swung on the first pitch he saw, flaring a blooper out into shallow right just over the reach of the first baseman. As the ball connected with turf, AJ Smith rounded third and scored to give B-CU the 2-1 win. 

Joel Core was excellent again in the midweek start, working six strong innings of two-hit ball, allowing just one run with three walks and five strikeouts.

Jeffrey Gonzalez earned the win. He threw three scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one. 



FAMU is 8-13 this season and 3-0 to start SWAC play after a series sweep of Alabama A&M. The Rattlers outscored the Bulldogs 39-13 in three games. The Rattlers took a 9-6 loss to USF Wednesday night in Tampa. 

The Rattlers are scoring an average of six runs per game, hitting .253 as a team. They have walked 99 times to 165 strikeouts as a team. The Rattlers have hit 18 homers as a team this season. 

Junior outfielder Janmikell Bastardo leads the Rattlers in average, hitting .320 with 12 RBI. Graduate outfielder Sebastian Grieco has a team-high 16 RBI as well as five homers.

Caleb Grainger, a senior right-hander, leads the Rattlers on the mound with five starts on the year. He has a 2.70 ERA with ten walks to 23 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. The Rattlers pitching staff has worked a 6.24 ERA with with 94 walks to 134 strikeouts

• Jose Gonzalez has reached base in 17 straight games. 
• The Wildcats lead the SWAC in fielding percentage at .970.
• B-CU has the best ERA in the conference at 4.93

Friday will mark the 179th meeting in the historic rivalry. B-CU holds a 105-73 advantage in the all-time series. 


Follow Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) 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.