HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The most one-sided affair of the 2024 season to-date went the way of the Wildcats as they punished Alabama A&M, 20-3, Friday night in Huntsville.
Bethune-Cookman (25-17, 15-4 SWAC), pounced for five runs in the first on only three hits as the first three Wildcats reached via the free pass.
Jose Gonzalez singled the first two runs home of the afternoon, and a
Manny Souffrain groundout and
Irvin Escobar double made it 5-0 in a hurry.Â
Alabama A&M (9-32, 5-14 SWAC) opened the bottom of the first with a solo shot on the third pitch of the frame, but that was all for the Bulldogs.
For the second time in as many games, the Wildcats posted a 10-spot, this time in the top of the second on seven hits and an AAMU error. A steal of home and an error made the lead 7-1 before back-to-back singles from
Ramses Cordova and
Colton Olasin bumped things to double-digits at 11-1. A bases-loaded walk from
Sergio Rivera and RBI singles from Gonzalez and Souffrain gave the Cats a 15-1 advantage through only two innings.Â
The teams traded runs in the third, B-CU via another Olasin RBI single, and AAMU with a sacrifice fly to make it 16-2.Â
The Bulldogs added one more in the sixth on another leadoff solo homer before Bethune-Cookman added four more on
Garrett Chun RBI single, AAMU fielding error, and
Michael Rodriguez single as the Cats closed the 20-3 win.Â
Tanner Boccabello made the start, working six innings in which he allowed three runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Jose Gonzalez pitched the seventh allowing just one hit with a walk and strikeout.
- Only one Wildcat starter did not record an RBI.Â
- Jose Gonzalez finished the day 3-3 with two runs scored, four RBI, a double, and a walk.
- Garrett Chun finished 3-4 with four runs scored, two RBI, a double, and two walks.
- Colton Olasin finished the day a perfect 5-5 with two runs scored, three RBI, and a double.
- Daniel Figueroa, Sergio Rivera, and Manny Souffrain also enjoyed multi-RBI games.
Game two of the three-game series is set for a 3 p.m. EST first pitch Saturday.Â
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--#HailWildcats--
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