DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- - An eighth-inning rally was stopped short as Bethune-Cookman settled for a season series split with FIU, Tuesday night in Miami. 



Starter Joel Core was excellent the Wildcats (4-8, 0-0 SWAC) through the first four innings of scoreless work in what was a briskly played ballgame at FIU Baseball Stadium. Unfortunately for Core, B-CU managed just one hit over that span which came in the first. 

FIU (8-5, 0-0 C-USA) managed the same in that span until finally crossing the plate in the fifth on a hit-by-pitch, steal, failed pickoff attempt, and an RBI single that made it 1-0. 

The Wildcats finally brought a runner to third in the sixth as Irvin Escobar was beaned and reached third on a failed pickoff attempt and Jayme Villafane bunt single, but a strikeout and double play ended the threat. 

Core was replaced by Dylan Vega in the bottom of the sixth. The Panthers scored two more via a homer and RBI single to make it 3-0. 

The biggest threat of the night for B-CU came in the eighth, as back-to-back walks and an Escobar single loaded the bases for Jorge Rogriguez. He reached via an error to move everyone up as Manny Souffrain came around to score to make it 3-1. 

With no one out, FIU turned to Ryan Cabarcas on the mound. He retired the next three batters he faced, all via swinging strikeouts, to snuff out B-CU's hopes. 

Tha Panthers wrapped things up with two more in the bottom of the eighth to make it 5-1, which they held for the win.

Depits taking the loss for B-CU, freshman Joel Core was solid in the start. In five innings, he allowed only one earned run on twwo hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

• Sergio Rivera's on-base streak to begin his B-CU career ends at 11 games after he was unable to reach base Tuesday. 
• The longest on-base streak now belongs to Jose Gonzale, who has reached base in ten straight.
• Irvin Escobar prolonged his hit streak to seven-games. 

The Diamond Cats wrap up their non-conference weekend slate at "The Jack" as they host Maine for a three-game set this weekend. First pitch of game one is set for Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. 


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