Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Bethune-Cookman used strong pitching and a late offensive surge to defeat Alabama State 6-1 on Friday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. The Wildcats were able to effectively work around significant traffic on the bases throughout the game while putting enough runs on the board to earn their 20th SWAC win of the season.

Neither team was able to break through early as both starting pitchers worked through scoreless first and second innings.

The Wildcats (34-16, 20-5) opened the scoring in the third inning. Christopher Watson and Sergio Rivera opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Darryl Lee added a bunt single to load the bases. Andrey Martinez then grounded into a double play that allowed Watson to score and give Bethune-Cookman a 1-0 lead.

Bethune-Cookman added another run in the sixth inning. Michael Rodriguez singled and later scored on an RBI base hit from Jose Fernandez to extend the lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Edwin Sanchez kept the Hornets (26-20, 16-9) off the board through 5.2 innings, working around multiple scoring threats while striking out seven batters.

The Wildcats broke the game open in the eighth inning with a four-run outburst. Martinez opened the inning with a single before Rodriguez walked and Maikol Lucena delivered an RBI single to center field. Later in the inning, Erick Almonte ripped a two-RBI triple into left center to extend the lead to 5-0. He would later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.

Alabama State finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth when Cale Clark lined an RBI double to center field, cutting the deficit to 6-1.

The Hornets threatened again in the ninth with back-to-back singles, but the Wildcats turned a game-ending double play to seal the victory.

Sanchez earned the win to improve to 10-1 on the season, while Anthony Anselmo picked up the save in relief. James Peterson was charged with the loss for Alabama State.

• Michael Rodriguez and Sergio Rivera each had two hits for the Wildcats.
• Jose Fernandez extended his hitting streak while recording RBI number 45 on the season.
• Erick Almonte has now hit two triples in the last four games after zero in the first 46 games.
• Edwin Sanchez earned his 10th victory of the season (10-1).
• Anthony Anselmo collected his first save of the year after allowing just one run in the final 3.1 innings.

Game two of the series will begin tomorrow at 7 p.m. EST.

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--#HailWildcats--