ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman continued its dominance in conference play Friday with a double header against Arkansas - Pine Bluff at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. The back-to-back victories clinches another series victory for the Wildcats as they remain undefeated in SWAC series this season.
Game 1: B-CU 16, UAPB 9
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (19-29, 12-11) struck first in the opening inning. After a leadoff double from Weston Gingerich, Blake Coleman delivered a two-RBI double to give the Golden Lions a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats (33-14, 19-4) answered immediately in the bottom half of the first. Taking advantage of walks and a hit batter, Bethune-Cookman scored three runs, highlighted by RBI opportunities from Maikol Lucena, Erick Almonte, and a sacrifice fly by Jeter Polledo to take a 3-2 lead.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff tied the game in the third inning on an RBI double from Coleman, making it 3-3.
Bethune-Cookman broke the game open in the bottom of the third with a six-run inning. Jose Fernandez drove in a run with a base hit before Polledo added a two-RBI single. Later in the inning, Andrey Martinez delivered a two-RBI single to cap the rally and give the Wildcats a 9-3 advantage.
The Golden Lions responded in the fifth inning, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues to score four runs and cut the deficit to 9-7.
The Wildcats answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. Sergio Rivera hit a solo home run and RBI singles from Michael Rodriguez and Maikol Lucena pushed the lead to 12-7.
Bethune-Cookman continued to add on in the sixth and seventh innings, extending the lead to 15-7 behind a sacrifice fly from Christopher Watson and additional runs driven in by Jose Fernandez and Jeter Polledo.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored a few runs late, but could not overcome the deficit.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the eighth before closing out the win. Jean Zambrano earned the victory in relief, while Joe King was charged with the loss.
Game 2: B-CU 6, UAPB 4
Neither team was able to break through early as both pitchers kept the game scoreless through the first three innings.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff struck first in the fourth inning. The Golden Lions loaded the bases and Zyon Hamilton delivered a two-RBI single to give UAPB a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After a pair of base hits, Erick Almonte ripped a two-RBI triple to tie the game before Jose Fernandez followed with a two-run home run to give Bethune-Cookman a 4-2 advantage.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff trimmed the deficit in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Aaron Grant, making it 4-3.
Bethune-Cookman added to its lead in the sixth as Fernandez struck again with a solo home run to push the score to 5-3.
The Wildcats extended the lead in the seventh inning when Christopher Watson launched a solo home run to make it 6-3.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff attempted to rally in the eighth inning, getting a solo home run from Aaron Grant to cut the deficit to 6-4.
The Golden Lions once again threatened in the ninth, putting a runner on base, but Pablo Torres shut the door to secure the save and preserve the Wildcats' win. Harbersting Abreu earned the victory after tossing seven innings, while Kenney Fabian was charged with the loss.
- Jose Fernandez hit two home runs in game two, the first multi-homer game for a Wildcat this season. He combined for five RBI in the double header.
- Jeter Polledo drove in four in game one.
- Pablo Torres earned his fourth save of the season.
- Harbertsing Abreu allowed just three runs in seventh inning while picking up the win in game two.
- The Wildcats overcame 2-0 deficits in both games of the double header.
The series concludes tomorrow with game three beginning at noon back at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
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