TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jose Fernandez' first inning grand slam set the tone for an eventual 10-4 Wildcats victory over Florida A&M at Moore-Kittles Field. Despite a nearly two-hour weather delay, the B-CU bats stayed hot, jumping out to a big lead and never looking back to earn an important series victory.

Bethune-Cookman (30-12, 16-3) began the first inning by loading the bases despite not recording a hit. Erick Almonte then took a walk to give the Cats a 1-0 advantage.

After a lengthy weather delay, Jose Fernandez came up with the biggest hit of the ballgame, crushing a grand-slam to centerfield to make it 5-0.

In the second inning, Darryl Lee led off with a triple and scored on a sac fly by Andrey Martinez to put B-CU up six.

Florida A&M (20-19, 15-5) finally respond in the bottom half. Jackson McKenzie led off the frame with a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-1.

The Rattlers continued to chip away in the fourth. Matthew Perez reached on a single and later came around on an error to make it 6-2.

The B-CU offense continued to produce throughout the rest of the game as FAMU would not get any closer. Fernandez came through again the fifth with an RBI double for the team's seventh run.

The Wildcats went up 8-2 in the seventh. Michael Rodriguez led off with a base hit and would score on a Jeter Polledo sac fly. In the eighth, Rodriguez would drive in two on a double with two outs to make it 10-2.

The Rattlers went on to score one run in the eighth and ninth innings, but the damage had already been done. Harbertsting Abreu recorded the win for B-CU, allowing two runs in five innings and collecting four strikeouts.

• Jose Fernandez recorded a season-high five RBI to lead the Wildcats.
• Michael Rodriguez finished 3-for-4 with a double and two driven in.
• Darryl Lee went 2-for-3 with a triple.
• Harbersting Abreu picked up his third win of the season after allowing two runs in five innings of work.
• Anthony Anselmo pitched two shutout innings in relief with two strikeouts.
• Florida A&M out-hit the Wildcats 11-10.

B-CU aims for the sweep Sunday afternoon as game three begins at 1 p.m. EST.
 

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--#HailWildcats--