BCU Diamondcats Down NSU 1-0 For MEAC Title

SALISBURY, Maryland – Tyler Norris and Alex Seibold took a combined no-hitter into the ninth, and a Jameel Edney solo home run keyed Bethune-Cookman’s 1-0 victory over Norfolk State Tuesday in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball tournament championship at A.W. Perdue Stadium.

The Wildcats (29-25) won their 18th conference title overall and third under Head Coach Jason Beverlin. Norfolk State finishes the season 29-21.

“We played with focus and energy all through the tournament," Beverlin said. "They were determined to reach a goal they set in the fall and win a MEAC championship and go to the NCAA Regionals.”

In a classic pitcher’s duel with NSU’s Matt Outman, the MEAC pitcher of the year, Norris threw six innings of no-hit ball before handing it over to Seibold, who continued the no-no until Roger Hall singled up the middle to lead off the ninth.

Seibold (6-4) quickly regrouped, getting a fly out, a strikeout, and catcher Clay Middleton throwing out pinch runner Keith Granger on the steal attempt for the dramatic third out. Norris finished with six strikeouts, Seibold three.

This was Seibold’s second scoreless relief appearance against Norfolk State in the tournament and fifth straight against a MEAC team. He hasn’t been scored on in MEAC play since giving up one run against Florida A&M April 16.

Offensively, the Wildcats squandered opportunities, leaving 10 on bases, including a bases-loaded situation in the sixth.

Edney’s homer – his second against Norfolk State in the tournament and seventh of the year – finally broke the scoreless tie.

Edney and Danny Rodriguez each had two hits for the Wildcats, who have won 21 of their last 25 games against conference opposition after getting swept at Florida A&M in the conference opening series.

Rodriguez, who hit .412 (7-17) in four tournament games, was named the tournament MVP while Beverlin was named Outstanding Coach.

Rodriguez was joined on the All-Tournament team by Norris, Edney and Nathan Bond.

“I said it all tournament that we’re a dangerous team when we play that way [Focused and energized]," Beverlin said. "It was a total team effort surrounded by some outstanding performances from Tyler Norris, Alex Seibold, Danny Rodriguez and Jameel Edney.”

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