JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman used a pair of multi-run innings and held off a late rally to defeat North Florida 7-4 on Tuesday night at Harmon Stadium.
The first three innings were quiet for both teams offensively. North Florida (8-10) had a chance to do some damage in the bottom of the first, with the bases loaded and just one out. But Julian Carrasquilla induced a double play to end the threat.
The Wildcats (11-6) broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Jeter Polledo and Maikol Lucena recorded hits to start the inning, while Michael Rodriguez and Rueben Zuany later drove them in, giving B-CU a 2-0 lead.
Bethune-Cookman added to the advantage in the fifth, plating three more runs to stretch the margin to 5-0. Polledo hit yet another triple, scoring two runs, while Lucena drove him in on a groundout.
North Florida got on the board in the sixth inning, using an RBI single by Gialdri Gomez to trim the deficit to four.
The Ospreys mounted their biggest threat in the seventh, scoring three runs to pull within 5-4 and bring the tying run into play. Carter White hit a triple to score one run, while two Wildcat errors allowed the Ospreys to score two more.
Bethune-Cookman answered in the eighth inning with two insurance runs to extend the lead back to three. Sergio Rivera hit his first home run of the season to left field to give the Cats some breathing room.
Pablo Torres got the job done on the mound in the late innings, allowing no runs in 2.1 innings to earn the save.
Carrasquilla (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.
- Sergio Rivera hit his first home run of the season.
- Julian Carrasquilla pitched 5.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed just one run on two hits.
- Pablo Torres earned the save, pitching 2.1 shutout innings to finish off the win.
- Jeter Podello hit his fourth triple in the last three games, which now ties him for first in the country with UNC's Jack Schaffner.
- Christopher Watson went 2-for-2 for B-CU off the bench.
Bethune-Cookman will get SWAC play started with a weekend series against Prairie View A&M at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch Friday is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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--#HailWildcats--
