SANFORD, Fla. - The Wildcats finished off a series sweep of rival Florida A&M to surge three games into first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings with a 9-2 win, Saturday afternoon at Sanford Memorial Stadium. 



For the second time in as many nights, Florida A&M (19-18, 13-5 SWAC) scratched a run across in the first with a two-out RBI single to go in front 1-0, early. 

The Wildcats (24-16, 16-2 SWAC) took some bad luck offensively through the first two inning with a pair of double plays leading to quick innings at the plate. 

FAMU threatened again in the third, putting runners on the corner with a two-out walk and single, but a fielder's choice ended the scoring chance. 

The Cats took control in the bottom of the third with a seven-run explosion beginning with a dropped popup that allowed Sergio Rivera to reach base with one out. A hit batter and an Andrey Martinez single moved the runners up a bag, while Rivera came all the way around to score on a FAMU throwing error.

Jesus Vanegas put the Cats in front for the first time on the afternoon with a ground rule double to left, scoring Martinez and Lee to make it 3-1.

The rally continued as Irvin Escobar walked - prompting a FAMU turn to the bullpen - and Michael Rodriguez bunted his way to a base hit to load up the bases again with just one out.

Jorge Gonzalez Febo laid the hammer with a two-run double that made it 5-1. With still just one away, the Cats added two more, one on a Jeter Polledo sacrifice fly, the other on a Sergio Rivera RBI double that made it 7-1. 

After FAMU stranded two more in the top of th fourth before the Wildcat bats went back to work for two more in the bottom of the frame. Vanegas did the damage again with a two-run homer that made it 9-1. 

The Rattlers put two on with just one out in the fifth, but two Sanchez swinging strikeouts shut the door again. 

The Rattlers doubled their run total in the top of the sixth as a bunt single and throwing error put a runner on third with no one away. The runner came into score on a groundout as FAMU pulled to within 9-2. 

The Wildcats looked primed for another huge inning in the sixth, loading the bases with two-away, but a groundout kept the lead at seven through six full.

FAMU continued to put pressure on the B-CU defense, putting runners on second and third with one out in the seventh, but Logan Wirt came out of the bullpen to stop the rally and keep the Rattlers off the board.

The final frames moved quickly as the B-CU bullpen shut the door on the 9-2 win. 

Edwin Sanchez earned his sixth win of the season after five full in which he allowed just one earned run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Julian Carrasquilla, Brandon Vazquez, and Logan Wirt combined for the final four frames, allowing just four hits and an unearned run. 

 

• B-CU now sits three games above FAMU for first place in the SWAC standings, and has now secured the tiebreaker. 
• Jesus Vanegas led the way at the plate with two hits in five at-bats with two runs scored, and four RBI.
• Irvin Escobar, hitting in the cleanup spot, went 3-4 with a run scored and a walk.
• B-CU stranded 11 runners to 12 for FAMU. 

B-CU will enjoy the Easter holiday before returning to the diamond on Monday, April 21 at Jacksonville. First pitch at the Dolphins is set for 7 p.m. 


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--#HailWildcats--