VERO BEACH, Fla. — Edwin Sanchez worked eight innings of one-run ball to lead B-CU to a 6-2 victory over Florida A&M in the Andre Dawson Classic.
The Wildcats (4-2) scored six unanswered runs through the first five innings and held off a late push from the Rattlers (1-5) to claim the win.
Bethune-Cookman broke through in the top of the third inning with a four-run surge. After Maikol Lucena doubled to open the frame, Sergio Rivera plated the game's first run with an RBI single. Erick Almonte followed with a bunt single, setting up Andrey Martinez for a two-run double to left-center that made it 3-0. Martinez later scored on Jorge Rodriguez's RBI single to cap the inning.
The Wildcats extended the lead to 6-0 in the fifth. Darryl Lee doubled and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt before Armani Newton delivered an RBI double to center. Jeter Polledo followed with an RBI single to right, chasing Florida A&M starter Caleb Granger from the game.
That was more than enough support for Edwin Sanchez (2-0), who was masterful across eight innings. The right-hander allowed just one hit and one run while striking out seven and walking one on 98 pitches. He faced just two batters over the minimum through seven innings and did not allow a hit until the ninth.
Florida A&M mounted a brief rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring twice on RBI hits from Jay Campbell and Ethan Miller, but Justin Morales closed the door with two strikeouts to secure the victory.
The Cats wrap up their series with Yale tomorrow afternoon back at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.
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--#HailWildcats--
