Sunday, May 23, 2010

Bethune-Cookman Wins Fifth Straight MEAC Championship; Beat Aggies 7-4 For Title

Bethune Cookman University head coach Mervyl Melendez was suspended for today's championship game due to ejection from yesterday's game, but Wildcats wins 10th MEAC Title in 11 seasons under Coach Melendez.

Daytona Beach, FL -- Bethune-Cookman won its fifth straight MEAC baseball championship with a 7-4 victory Sunday afternoon over North Carolina A&T. Jeremy Davis was 4-4 with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and Alejandro Sanchez continued his hot hitting with a home run and two hits to pace the Wildcat offense. B-CU starter Roman Lancaro (4-2) pitched six innings for the win and Juan Perez pitched the ninth inning for his tenth save.

"What can you say about Jeremy Davis," said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. "He has been a good player for us all season and saved his best game for the championship and the big game today. Roman Lancara gaves us a good pitching performance as the starter and we did what it takes to win."

"The comebacks by this team (12 this year) and play of this team all year was special. We talked last year and all this year about winning games and coming from behind. And like Florida's team last year (20 comeback victories), this team has the never quit attitude and we have a lot of baseball to play and to prepare for the regionals. I am very proud of these guys. They are a real team."

DJ Leonard Named Tournament Outstanding Player; NCAA Selection Day May 31

B-CU rallies to make title game


DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- In a game that had a little bit of everything, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats provided plenty of drama on the way to a 7-3 come-from-behind victory Saturday over North Carolina A&T at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. A six-run rally in the seventh inning pushed the Wildcats to their 12th come-from-behind win of the season and earned them a spot in today's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.

B-CU (34-20), seeking its fifth straight MEAC crown and 10th in 11 seasons, plays the Aggies again for the title at 2 p.m. today. A North Carolina A&T victory would set up the "if necessary" game at 6 p.m. for the title. Bethune-Cookman trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh, but Jeremy Davis' RBI single provided the go-ahead run and D.J. Leonard's 10th home run of the season -- a three-run shot to left -- capped the comeback.

It was an emotional victory for the Wildcats, who saw head coach Mervyl Melendez get ejected in the top of the fifth inning moments after starting pitcher Ali Simpson was thrown out for pushing A&T's Alex Grubb. Simpson had reacted to a bump from Grubb as the B-CU pitcher covered first base on a groundout. "We've gotta stick up for our players and I thought it was my job to stick up for Ali," Melendez said. "The bottom line is our guys had the intensity to fight the adversity, and we were able to come back, which is a trademark of this team."

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