ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Arkansas Pine - Bluff Rallied for an early deficit to defeat the Wildcats 10-6 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. B-CU was ahead 6-3 when the game was paused due to storms in the area. Play eventually resumed Sunday, with the Golden Lions scoring seven unanswered runs to avoid the sweep.
After a scoreless first fwe innings, Bethune-Cookman (33-15, 19-5) broke through in the third with a big offensive outburst. After loading the bases, Andrey Martinez lifted a sacrifice fly to open the scoring before Michael Rodriguez and Maikol Lucena followed with RBI singles. Jose Fernandez then delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a three-run home run to give the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (20-29, 13-11) began to chip away in the fourth inning. The Golden Lions strung together four hits, highlighted by RBI singles from Konner Giddley and Zyon Hamilton to cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Golden Lions continued to close the gap in the fifth, drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-3.
After being held in check for a pair of innings, Arkansas-Pine Bluff took control in the seventh. With runners in scoring position, Lazaro Alvarado delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game before additional RBI hits from Giddley and Hamilton gave UAPB a 7-6 lead.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff added insurance in the eighth inning with a pair of runs on RBI singles from Alvarado and Nick Hockemeyer to extend the lead to 9-6.
The Golden Lions tacked on another run in the ninth on a fielder's choice to push the advantage to 10-6.
Bethune-Cookman was unable to respond after its big third inning, as Arkansas-Pine Bluff's bullpen shut the door over the final frames. Brendan Hamlin earned the win in relief, while Bryon Rincones was charged with the loss.
The Wildcats will make the short trip to DeLand to take on the Stetson Hatters. Tuesday night's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. EST.
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--#HailWildcats--
