DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Sophomore starter
Joel Core struck out a career-high 12 batters, but the Wildcats came up short as UMass evened up the weekend series on a 4-3 win, Saturday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
It took just eight pitches for Wildcat starter
Joel Core to get through the top of the UMass order in the first before B-CU (1-5) stranded a runner at second a half-inning later.
The Minutemen (1-1) threatened in the second with a leadoff walk, single, and wild pitch, but Core stayed strong, striking out three in the frame.
Two quiet frames saw each side strikeout twice before B-CU saw some life again in the third on a
Sergio Rivera one-out walk and steal before another walk made it two-on with only one away. B-CU could not bring a run in.
Two more strikeouts for Core in the fourth set B-CU up for the game's opening score as
Manny Souffrain walked and scored on an
Irvin Escobar double to right center. The Cats nearly made it 2-0, but Escobar was tagged out a on a
Jayme Villafane single as the relay from left field home caught the B-CU catcher.
Core struck out another pair of Minutemen in the fifth, but finally showed some struggles in the sixth, as UMass plated three on four hits in the top of the inning to go in front, 3-1.
In the top of the sixth, pinch hitter
Peter Vazquez gave the Cats life again with a leadoff double before a hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases with two gone. The Wildcats cut the deficit to one on a Rivers hit-by-pitch, and tied things one batter later off a wild pitch from the UMass bullpen.
The Wildcats turned to the pen in the top fo the seventh, working around a one-out walk witth a caught stealing.
After another call to the bullpen, the Wildcats nealrly gave up the lead in the eighth as UMass loaded the bases with two out, but a
Carlos Jazmin strikeout cut off the threat.
Despite two more baserunners in the eighth, B-CU could not break the stalemate, wnd the game headed to extras.
UMass went ahead for good in the tenth on a leadoof double, hit batter, sacrifice bunt, and sac fly that made it 4-3, which they held for the win.
Joel Core's outstanding start to the season continued Saturday - he allowed just three earned rusn on five hits with a walk and a career-high 12 strikeouts in six innings.
Rober Lastra, making his second appearance for the Wildcats, pitched 1.1 scoreless with a strikeout.
Carlos Jazmin allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 2.2 innings.
- B-CU managed just three hits in the game.
- The Wildcats walked nine times to 16 strikeouts.
- B-CU stranded nine runners - UMass seven.
The rubber match of the three-game series is set for noon on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Admission is free. Fans can watch live at YouTube.com/CateyeNetwork
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--#HailWildcats--
