PINE BLUFF, Ark.- In the third straight contest ending via walk-off, Bethune-Cookman Baseball came out on the losing end of a 6-5 finish to open a three-game series at Arkansas - Pine Bluff, Friday night at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
Bethune-Cookman (25-18, 16-3 SWAC) scored first as
Jesus Vanegas homered to center to go up, 1-0.
UAPB (12-28, 10-6 SWAC) answered and took the lead after a leadoff double and error tied things at one. An RBI single one batter later made it 2-1.
Each starting pitcher settled in each side recorded only two hits each through the next three innings. B-CU's best chance came in the top of the fourth, but
Jorge Rodriguez was caught attempting to score on a Vanegas grounder to third.
The Wildcats re-took the lead in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with no one out.
Jose Fernandez plated both with a pinch hit, RBI single to make it 3-2, B-CU.
B-CU threatened again in the seventh as
Daniel Figueroa singled and stole both second and third with only one out, but the Wildcats could not score him from third.
UAPB plated three in the bottom of the seventh as B-CU starter
Tanner Boccabello was forced out of the game with an injury. Four UAPB hits, including a two-RBI double, made it a 5-3 game in favor of the Golden Lions.
B-CU mounted a two-out rally in the ninth to tie things at five. It begain with a
Jeter Polledo double to left. Figueroa made it a one-run game with a single right up the middle to make it 5-4.
Darryl Lee doubled to left center to tie things up before a UAPB pitching change ended the chance to go ahead.
After another B-CU call to the bullpen, the Golden Lions pushed back-to-back singles into the outfield with one out. A walk loaded the bases before a pickoff attempt at third sailed into the outfield and UAPB walked it off, 6-5.
Tanner Boccabello took a no-decision after six innings in which he allowed two unearned runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Yoansell Diaz took the loss.
Pending weather, the start for game two of the three-game series is set for 3 p.m. EST, Saturday.
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--#HailWildcats--
