DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats swept through their first weekend of conference play for the first time since 2022 as they steamrolled Alcorn State for their third-straight run-rule game, a 15-5 win over the Braves in seven innings, Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark



For the first time in the three-game series, the Wildcats (10-10, 3-0 SWAC) kept Alcorn State (2-14, 0-3 SWAC) off the board in the first as starter Edwin Sanchez struck out the side.

Darryl Lee opened the scoring in a hurry for B-CU, sending the first pitch he saw out of the leadoff spot over the wall in right center to put the Cats in front, 1-0. 

After back-to-back singles and a hit batter, the Cats found themselves with the bases loaded and no one out for Andrey Martinez. Another run came across on a wild pitch, moving everyone up a bag.

Martinez singled on the infield, allowing Jorge Gonzalez Febo to score to make it 3-1, Cats. 

Another walk loaded the bases again, but a flyout prevented any more run support for B-CU.

Sanchez followed up the rally with three more strikeouts, working around a two-out single to make it six punchouts through just two innings. 

Two more B-CU runs followed as the Braves struggled to find the strike zone. Lee, leading off the second straight inning, walked, advancing to third on a Vanegas single and error. He came around to score on a passed ball that made it 4-0. A Gonzalez Febo sacrifice fly added another as the Cats went up, 5-0 after two.

Alcorn State got on the board in the third on a walk, steal, single, and sacrifice fly before Sanchez came back with two more strikeouts.

For the third straight inning, the Wildcats crossed the plate, taking advantage of another hit-by-pitch as Jeter Polledo scored from second on a Sergio Rivera RBI single. B-CU loaded the bases up on another hit batter and walk, with a Gonzalez Febo bases-loaded walk adding to the lead at 7-1. A double play prevented further damage. 

The Braves opened the fourth with a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch before a two-out RBI single made it a 7-2 game. 

The Wildcats moved into run-rule range in the fourth on a Polledo RBI single and run-scoring balk. A Jesus Vanegas three-run homer atop the batting cages in left field made it a 12-2 lead for B-CU.

Two more strikeouts for Sanchez in the fifth kept the Braves quiet as he ended his day with a season-high for any Wildcat arm with a career-high 13 strikeouts on the day. 

The Braves snuck three runs in the sixth as the Cats turned to the bullpen. Back-to-back walks, a single, and a groundout made it 12-3 before a pinch-hit two-RBI single pulled Alcorn back to within 12-5. 

B-CU answered with two more in the sixth after the Braves hit two batters with a walk. Another Braves balk made it 13-5, with a Jorge Rodriguez single to follow to make it a 14-5 game. 

The Wildcats walked things off in run-rule style in the seventh again via the balk, with Armani Newton crossing the plate for the 15-5 win. 

Sanchez finished his day with five innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits, a walk, and a career-high 13 strikeouts. 

Isaias Duccassee and Aaron Schaefer combined out of the bullpen in the win. 

• With 13 strikeouts on the day, Sanchez surpasses teammate Joel Core, whose 12 strikeouts against UMass was the previous high for a Wildcat on the year. 
• Jesus Vanegas led the way at the plate with a 3-3 day with three runs scored, three RBI, and a walk. He ties Armani Newton for the team lead in homers with four. 
• Darryl Lee scored four runs despite only recording one hit in one official plate appearance. He walked three times on the day and stole two bases. 
• B-CU struck out only five times on the day. They fanned 16 Braves.

The Cats welcome in North Florida to Jackie Robinson Ballpark for a midweek contest on Tuesday, March 18 at 6 p.m. 


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