BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff held off a late rally from Bethune-Cookman to secure a 6-4 victory on Tuesday night at Rickwood Field in the opening round of the SWAC Tournament. The Wildcats were able to slowly claw back from an early 5-0 hole and even brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning. Ultimately, the Golden Lions prevailed and B-CU is now on the brink of elimination.
The Golden Lions struck quickly in the opening inning against Edwin Sanchez. Zach Wieder doubled down the left field line before Aaron Grant brought home the game's first run with an RBI single. Later in the frame, Blake Coleman added an RBI single and Nick Hockemeyer lifted a sacrifice fly to give Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 3-0 lead.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff added another run in the second inning. Konner Giddley singled to lead off the frame and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Weston Gingerich to extend the advantage to 4-0.
The Golden Lions continued to add on in the fourth inning. Zyon Hamilton tripled down the right field line before Giddley delivered an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-0.
Bethune-Cookman broke through in the fifth inning. Jeter Polledo reached after being hit by a pitch before Christopher Watson singled and Sergio Rivera followed with an RBI bunt single to put the Wildcats on the board. Two batters later, Andrey Martinez launched a three-run home run to left field to cut the deficit to 5-4.
The Wildcats threatened to tie the game in the eighth inning after Jose Fernandez singled and advanced into scoring position, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff escaped the inning without allowing a run.
The Golden Lions added an insurance run in the ninth inning when Gingerich doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Grant to push the lead to 6-4.
Bethune-Cookman mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth. Watson singled and moved to third base with one out before a weather delay halted play for more than an hour. After play resumed, Arkansas-Pine Bluff retired the final two batters to seal the victory.
Kenney Fabian earned the win after allowing four runs over seven innings, while Jaden Porter picked up the save. Edwin Sanchez was charged with the loss for Bethune-Cookman.
- Edwin Sanchez only pitched 3.0 innings against Pine Bluff, taking the loss for the first time this season against a SWAC opponent.
- Andris Barroso and Jean Carlo Zambrano put together strong outings out of the pen to keep the Wildcats in the game. They combined to pitch 6.0 innings, allowing just one run on five hits.
- Andrey Martinez paced the B-CU offense with his fifth inning three-run homer.
- UAPB out-hit the Wildcats 13-9.
- Bethune-Cookman never led in the game.
- The two teams combined to strike out just four times.
Bethune-Cookman will look to stave off elimination tomorrow as they face Grambling State at 1 p.m. EST.
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--#HailWildcats--
