DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman took care of business against Prairie View A&M Saturday, winning both doubleheader games to complete the series sweep at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Game 1: B-CU 6, PVAMU 3
After four scoreless innings, Bethune-Cookman (14-6, 3-0 SWAC) broke through in the fifth. Erick Almonte delivered a two-run double to left field to open the scoring, and a wild pitch brought home another run. Andrey Martinez followed with a two-run single to right-center before Maikol Lucena capped the rally with a two-run single through the left side, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.
Prairie View A&M (4-14, 0-3 SWAC) chipped away late. Sonnier Moses hit a two-run home run to left in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to four. In the ninth, Corie Lockette tripled and scored on Ryland Duson's RBI double to make it 6-3, but Bethune-Cookman reliever Anthony Anselmo struck out the final batter to end the game.
Edwin Sanchez (4-1) earned the win for the Wildcats, allowing just one hit over six shutout innings while striking out six. Ethan Diaz gave up two runs in two innings before Anselmo closed out the ninth.
Prairie View starter Kenneth Haynes (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Lucena finished with two hits and two RBIs for Bethune-Cookman, while Almonte also drove in two runs. Moses led Prairie View with a home run and two RBIs.
Bethune-Cookman totaled seven hits in the win, while Prairie View managed five.
Game 2: B-CU 10, PVAMU 5
Prairie View A&M struck first with two runs in the opening inning. Tyvon Moore doubled and later scored on Ryland Duson's RBI single before Sonnier Moses drove in another run after being hit by a pitch.
Bethune-Cookman answered with a run in the bottom of the first on Darryl Lee's RBI single, then took control in the fourth. The Wildcats scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Michael Rodriguez, Jorge Rodriguez and Ruben Zuany to grab a 5-2 lead.
The Panthers added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Duson, but B-CU responded with another four-run frame in the bottom half. Zuany delivered the big blow with a three-run double to left-center, extending the Wildcats' advantage to 9-3.
PVAMU trimmed the deficit to 9-5 in the sixth on an RBI single from Dylan Diaz and a sacrifice fly by Moore, but the Wildcats added an insurance run in the eighth on Erick Almonte's sacrifice fly to close the scoring.
Ruben Zuany led Bethune-Cookman at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, while Jorge Rodriguez added two hits and two RBIs. Moore paced Prairie View with three hits and two runs scored.
Tanner Boccabello (1-0) earned the win after allowing three runs over five innings. Kamar Dove (0-3) took the loss for Prairie View after surrendering seven runs, six earned, in 4 2/3 innings.
Bethune-Cookman finished with 11 hits in the victory, while Prairie View totaled eight.
- Edwin Sanchez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second time this season.
- Ruben Zuany finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI in the game two victory.
- Erick Almonte recorded a double and three RBI in the two wins.
- In his return from the World Baseball Classic, Justin Morales picked up four strikeouts in two innings of work out of the bullpen.
- Maikol Lucena had three hits and two RBI in the doubleheader victory.
Bethune-Cookman returns to the site of last season's regional as they take on No. 20 Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6 p.m.
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--#HailWildcats--
