MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A seventh-inning lead vanished as Bethune-Cookman dropped the series-opener at Alabama State, 5-4, Friday night in Montgomery.



The Wildcats (17-16, 9-3 SWAC) opened the night as Danield Figueroa was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a flyball, and scored on a Sergio Rivera RBI double in the first. 

Alabama State (15-16, 6-6 SWAC) stranded one in the first before bringing the tying run home in the second on three straight two-out singles that made it 1-1. 

The Hornets took their first lead of the night in the bottom of the third as Randy Flores came around to score on a steal of third and Wildcat error that made it 2-1.

B-CU tied things again in the top of the sixth as the Hornets struggled with a pair of fly balls in the twilight, resulting in a Sergio Rivera double and Jose Gonzalez triple to tie things at 2-2.

The Cats padded their lead in the seventh as Figueroa and Colton Olasin came around to score on a Rivera RBI single. A popout and strikeout cut off any further damage in the seventh as B-CU stranded a pair. 

Alabama State answered with a leadoff single and two-run homer that made it a 4-4 game. An RBI single off the B-CU bullpen gave the Hornets the 5-4 lead, and their bullpen held firm for the series-opening win. 

Tanner Boccabello suffered his first loss as a Wildcat after 6.1 innings in which he allowed five runs - four earned, on nne hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

Dylan Vega faced one batter before Pablo Torres finished off the game allowing only a walk with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. 

• Sergio Rivera finished the night 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
• Daniel Figueroa scored a pair of runs with a hit, two steals, and two hit-by-pitches. 
• B-CU stranded eight runners. 

B-CU will look to even up the series in game two, set to begin at 7 p.m EST on Saturday. 

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