CORAL GABLES, Fla. — No. 24 Miami used a three-run seventh inning to break open a tight game and defeat Bethune-Cookman 5-2 on Wednesday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
The Hurricanes (11-2) finished with eight hits and drew nine walks, while Bethune-Cookman (9-4) recorded six hits in the midweek contest.
Miami took the early lead in the second inning when Fabio Peralta lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Brylan West for a 1-0 advantage.
Bethune-Cookman tied the game in the fifth. Jose Fernandez singled to start the inning and later scored when Sergio Rivera lined a single to left. Rivera advanced to third on a fielding error during the play as the Wildcats evened the score at 1-1.
The Hurricanes answered in the bottom half of the inning with another sacrifice fly, this time from Daniel Cuvet, to regain the lead at 2-1.
The Wildcats pulled even again in the sixth when Michael Rodriguez drove in a run with a two-out RBI single, tying the game at 2-2.
Miami broke the game open in the seventh. Derek Williams delivered a two-run double to left-center field, and Brylan West added an RBI sacrifice fly later in the inning to push the Hurricanes' lead to 5-2.
Jake Dorn (1-0) earned the win in relief for Miami, while Ryan Bilka recorded the final three outs for his first save of the season. Anthony Anselmo (0-1) was charged with the loss for Bethune-Cookman.
Rivera, Fernandez and Erick Almonte each collected hits for the Wildcats, while Rivera also stole his 11th base of the season.
Bethune-Cookman stranded eight runners and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Miami left 11 runners on base.
B-CU hosts Florida Gulf Coast for a weekend series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Friday's action begins at 7 p.m.
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--#HailWildcats--
