DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman clinches the SWAC Eastern Division's No. 2 seed with a 10-0 run-rule win over Alabama State on senior day, Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Alabama State (28-25, 18-12 SWAC) put a pair of runners on thanks to some two-out hitting, but Wildcat starer
Daniel Gaviria held firm to keep the Hornets off the board.
after three full scoreless, managing only one hit, Bethune-Cookman (29-24, 19-11 SWAC) put its first leadoff runner on base to start the bottom of the fourth as
Garrett Chun singled. A groundout and Alabama State error moved Chun over to third before
Jorge Rodriguez put the Cats on the board with an RBI single.
The Wildcats put up a crooked number in the fifth as senior
Franki Febles led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch. A single, walk, and another hit batter allowed Chun to push a run across on a bases-loaded walk with no one out.
Another senior,
Jason Hodges, recorded an RBI of his own as he forced a Hornets throwing error to move everybody up still with no one out. After a pair of B-CU outs, Rodriguez made the Hornets pay with a triple to right center that cleared the bases and put the Wildcats up 6-1.
As Gaviria continued to cruise on the mound, The Wildcats put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with a four-spot off the Hornets bullpen. Again B-CU led things off with a Febles hit-by-pitch and Olasin single before a sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position with one away.
Another Chun RBI, this time on a fieder's choice, scored one before Hodges singled home Olasin on a bunt.
A pickoff attempt by the Alabama State catcher sailed into left field, allowing both Hodges and Chun to score to make it a clean 10-0 lead for the Wildcats.
Alabama State could not answer as they were forced into run-rule submission after seven full.
Daniel Gaviria was stellar in his final senior start. In his second seven-inning complete game of the season, Gaviria allowed only three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw only 65 pitches.
- The Wildcats must win Saturday to clinch the No. 2 seed in the SWAC East ahead of the conference tournament.
- Jorge Rodriguez finished the day 2-4 with four RBI.
- Colton Olasin finished the day 2-3 with two runs scored.
- Garrett Chun recorded a hit, three runs scored, a walk, and two RBI.
- Jason Hodges also recorded a hit with two runs scored and two RBI.
The Wildcats have officially clinched the SWAC East's No. 2 seed heading into the SWAC tournament. The Wildcats are set to open their run for a SWAC title on Wednesday, May 22, as they take on the west division's No. 3 seed, Prairie View A&M at 9 a.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta.
All tournament games will be broadcast live on Youtube.com/Cateyenetwork, with audio available on Daytona Beach radio airwaves Wednesday at 1380 WELE.
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--#HailWildcats--
