MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman tallied 14 runs on 13 hits Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats claimed the final game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Alabama State with a 14-11 decision inside Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Bethune-Cookman (18-17, 10-4 SWAC) trailed 11-9 after seven innings.
 
After allowing five runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats responded with four runs of their own in the top of the eighth.
 
A Jose Gonzalez double to left center plated Sergio Rivera and Garrett Chun to give the Cats the lead once again at 12-11. A Colton Olasin two-run single through the left side was enough to score Manny Souffrain and Gonzalez for the 14-11 score line.
 
Pablo Torres would toe the rubber for the Maroon and Gold in the ninth to shut the door and earn his third save of the year, while helping the Wildcats avoid a series sweep.
 
The Cats kicked off the game with three runs in the opening two frames.
 
Daniel Figueroa scored the opening run in the top of the second, while a Rases Cordova sacrifice fly in the second was deep enough to plate Irvin Escobar for the 2-0 BCU lead. That was followed with Figueroa's RBI single to center to bring across Jorge Gonzalez Febo and push the lead to 3-0.
 
After Alabama State (17-17, 8-7 SWAC) brought back a pair of runs to make it 3-2, the Cats would extend the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Gonzalez knocked out his second home run of the season with a two-run shot over the wall in left center to also score Figueroa, pushing BCU's advantage to 5-2. First baseman Souffrain would follow with his team-leading third home run of the year to make it 6-2.
 
BCU scored another four runs in the top of the sixth to make it 10-2.
 
A Chun single through the right side scored Cordova for the first run of the frame. Rivera singled to the opposite side in order to score second baseman Olasin. Gonzalez recorded a sac fly to plate Chun. And it would eventually be Rivera scoring on a Will Smith wild pitch.
 
However, the Hornets would respond with nine runs across the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to take an 11-10 lead.
 
The win went to Dylan Vega (1-1) for the Wildcats out of the bullpen as he went two innings on the bump, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter. Torres fanned one batter in the ninth for the save. The loss was taken by Alabama State reliever Colon (0-1).
 
The BCU bats were paced by Figueroa with a 3-for-6 afternoon, adding two runs and an RBI. Olasin was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, as well as Gonzalez with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish with five RBIs and two runs of his own. Escobar and Chun also provided the Cats with multi-hit performances on the day.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns home Tuesday, April 16, when the Cats host fellow Volusia County opponent Stetson to Jackie Robinson Ballpark at 6:30 p.m.
 
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