BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sergio Rivera had three hits and Yoansell Diaz went 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Thursday evening to spur a comeback for Bethune-Cookman as the top-seeded Wildcats defeated No. 3 seed Alabama State by a score of 9-8 in a winner's bracket contest of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Baseball Tournament at Rickwood Field.
 
With Bethune-Cookman (35-21) trailing 8-7 midway through the seventh inning, the Wildcats scored two all-important runs to give them their fifth consecutive win over Alabama State.
 
Senior pitcher Yoansell Diaz replaced reliever Jean Carlos Zambrano on the mound, beginning the comeback for the Maroon and Gold.
 
With runners on second and third, redshirt freshman All-SWAC shortstop Jeter Polledo doubled to right field, and Sergio Rivera followed with a two-run single through the left side that plated both Polledo and catcher Irvin Escobar, erasing the deficit and pushing the Wildcats to a 9-8 lead.
 
Diaz proved to be the difference-maker on the bump down the stretch, shutting down the Alabama State (30-28) offense over the final 2.1 innings while striking out three batters. The right-hander allowed just one hit in his time on the mound.
 
Bethune-Cookman struck first in the opening frame when first baseman Jorge Rodriguez reached on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on an Armani Newton RBI double down the line in left.
 
The Wildcats then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second inning.
 
Rivera doubled to left field and scored on a Daniel Figueroa RBI single to double the lead, 2-0. After Figueroa swiped second – his 32nd stolen base of the season, All-SWAC performer and left fielder Darryl Lee delivered an RBI single through the right side to plate the Wildcats centerfielder and up the lead at 3-0.
 
With two in scoring position for the Wildcats, Rodriguez stepped to the plate and launched a three-run homer to right field, his 13th home run of the season, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 advantage.
 
B-CU added to the lead in the home-half of the third inning when Rivera singled to right field before working his way into scoring position with a steal of second. He later crossed on Lee's second RBI double of the game to push the lead to 7-0.
 
Alabama State plated its first run of the evening in the top of the fourth inning when first baseman Juan Cruz singled up the middle and scored on a Kameron Douglas triple to left-center. Douglas would trot in two batters later on an Alex Espaillat RBI groundout, cutting the B-CU lead at 6-2.
 
The Hornets added two additional runs in the fifth inning.
 
ASU catcher DeMarckus Smiley walked to lead off the inning. Kelvin Agosto later drew a walk to load the bases on Wildcats starting pitcher Joel Core. Cruz then delivered a two-run double down the left field line, scoring both Luke Parmentier and Smiley, brining the Hornets to within 6-4.
 
The game's decisive moments came in a wild seventh inning that saw both teams combining for six runs.
 
The Hornets appeared to seize control with a four-run outburst against Cats reliever Zambrano.
 
Isaiah Landry was hit by a pitch to start the ASU at-bat, and Agosto stepped up and singled him to third base. Cruz stepped to the dish registering his third RBI of the game with another double down the left field line, bringing his side to within 7-5. Douglas followed with a sacrifice fly to center, chipping into the Wildcats advantage at 7-6. The Hornets scoring continued when Wilbert Espinal reached on Wildcats fielding error which allowed Cruz to scamper in and knot the game at 7-7. Espinal, the ASU designated hitter, eventually crossed safely on a Smiley RBI single, surging the Hornets in front for the first time in the contest, 8-7.
 
Core started effectively for the Maroon and Gold, working six innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits in the no-decision outing. The right-hander struck out six batters and issued just two walks before giving way to the bullpen. Zambrano encountered trouble in his brief seventh-inning appearance, surrendering four runs on three hits while hitting two batters.
 
For Yoansell Diaz, his 2.1 scoreless-inning outing allowed him to even his record at 4-4 for the campaign.
 
ASU starter Will Bartkoski lasted just 1.1 innings while allowing six runs on six hits and two walks. Caleb Sanders provided stability in relief, working 5.1 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out three batters, despite being saddled with the loss to fall to 1-5 for the season.
 
Cruz paced Alabama State's offensive attack with a 3-for-5 showing that included two doubles and three RBIs. Douglas contributed a 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while teammate Smiley added two hits and scored twice himself.
 
For B-CU, Lee's two-hit, two-RBI performance was one of five (5) Wildcats tallying a multi-hit contest on the evening. Rivera finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Designated hitter Newton contributed two doubles and an RBI, while Polledo added two hits and a crucial seventh-inning double that helped spark the Wildcats' comeback attempt.
 
The Cats advance to face the winner of Friday morning's elimination contest between Jackson State and Alabama State. Game time for the Wildcats game on Friday is slated for 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT).
 
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