DELAND, Fla - The Wildcats came out on the wrong end of six lead changes as Stetson survived for an 8-7 win over B-CU, Tuesday night at Melching Field



Bethune-Cookman (27-22) jumped on the Hatters out of the gate, immediately loading the bases on two four-pitch walks and a hit-by-pitch. Manny Souffrain's sacrifice fly was all the Cats could muster with no one out as they settled for a 1-0 lead. 

Stetson (31-18) responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the first on an RBI single and a three-run homer to make it 4-1. 

B-CU grabbed one back in the next frame thanks to another sacrifice fly, this time by Garrett Chun after the Cats loaded the bases for the second consecutive inning. 

The chaos continued into the bottom of the second as the Hatters loaded the bases with two outs, but could not score.

The Wildcats evened things up with two more in the top of the third as Jorge Rodriguez and Jose Gonzalez each crossed the plate on a Hatters error to knot things at 4-4. 

Bethune-Cookman made it four straight innings on the scoreboard with another two runs in the fourth, putting two runners on with one away. Gonzalez picked up an RBI on a ground-rule double that scored Chun, and Souffrain picked up another on an RBI groundout. 

Stetson tied things at 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout and RBI single. 

B-CU surged in front yet again in the sixth as Chun came around to score on a Gonzalez RBI single. The Cats loaded the bases again with one out, but a flyout and strikeout prevented any insurance runs.

The Hatters loaded the bases again themselves a half-inning later, plating one to tie things at seven. A flyout and groundout stopped any further damage. 

It was Stetson that ended the back-and-forth with a final run in the bottom of the eighth to put the Hats up for good. A bases-loaded walk was the difference as Stetson survived a one-out walk in the ninth to take the 8-7 victory.

Six different Wildcats appeared on the mound for B-CU, with Joel Core making the start and Patrick Groark saddled with the loss

• Jose Gonzalez finished the night 3-5 with a run scored and two RBI.
• Manny Souffrain grabbed two RBI and a hit. 
• Only one Wildcat starter did not record a hit in the contest. 
• B-CU stole four bases.
• The Wildcats walked seven times to 11 strikeouts on the night. They stranded 11 baserunners. 

The Cats continue the critical final stretch of the regular season as they head to Jackson State for their final road trip of the season. First pitch of game one of a three-game series is set for Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. EST.


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