DAYTONA BEACH Fla.-  Jose Fernandez's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Wildcats to a series-opening win over Alabama State, erasing a deficit as high as five runs, Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. 



Alabama State (23-23, 15-7 SWAC) was ready to go out of the gate as a one-out double and two-run homer made it a quick two-run lead for the Hornets off B-CU starter Pablo Torres, filling in on Friday in the absence of Tanner Boccabello.

The Hornets tagged Torres for another in the second on a two-out RBI triple, and another in the third on a pair of doubles as Alabama State's lead reached 4-0.

Bethune-Cookman (26-19, 17-4 SWAC) saw its offense finally show signs of life in the bottom of the third as Jeter Polledo launched the first pitch of the inning to left for a solo shot to make it 4-1. 

The Hornets tacked on two more in the fourth, again with two outs as Alabama State loaded the bases and plated a pair on a single up the middle to push the lead back up to 6-1. 

Another leadoff solo shot, this time in the fourth by Jorge Rodriguez, made it 6-2. 

The Wildcats turned to the bullpen in the fifth as Sebastian Garrido took the ball and worked a clean fifth. He was replaced in favor of Carlos Jazmin in the sixth with two runners on, but the Cats escaped the jam with a popout and strikeout.

B-CU inched closer in the sixth as Andrey Martinez led off the frame with a double to dead center. After back-to-back outs, a dropped foul ball allowed Jorge Gonzalez Febo to stay alive and work a walk to put two on with two out. 

Irvin Escobar made it 6-4 as a flare out to right center fell in no man's land to score two.

Alabama State stopped the bleeding with a run in the seventh on a two-out solo homer.

The big blow for B-CU came in the bottom of the seventh as the Hornets turned the game over to star reliever Jafet Martinez.

Off the Hornets pen, B-CU struck for five runs beginning with a leadoff single by Polledo - he reached third on a steal that forced a Hornets error with no one out.

Sergio Rivera traded places with Polledo at third on a RBI triple. One batter later, Darryl Lee doubled to sneak to within a run at 7-6. 

Jorge Rodriguez sent one over the wall again to give the Cats an 8-7 lead, forcing another call to the pen for the Hornets.

B-CU grabbed on more off the new reliever as Irvin Escobar singled and helped Jesus Vanegas score from third on a double steal attempt to make it 9-7.

Alabama State took one back in the eighth on another solo shot and tied things in the ninth on an RBI single to set up a walk-off opportunity for B-CU in the final frame of the game.

Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to leadoff the ninth. Daniel Figueroa, pinch running, reached third on a groundout and flyout as the winning run with two away.

Jose Fernandez, who had pinch hit a few innings prior for Reinaldo Plascencia, sent a grounder through the left side to score Figueroa and walk off the Hornets, 10-9. 

Pablo Torres made the start, allowing six earned runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in four innings.

Carlos Jazmin enjoyed one of his best outings as a Wildcat, working 2.2 innings allowing two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Jean Carlos Zambrano got the win, working an inning in which he allowed a run on two hits.