B-CU Wildcats Feast on FAMU in MEAC Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Bethune-Cookman's onslaught of action to climb out of the elimination bracket continued Saturday morning at Silwa Stadium on the campus of Embry-Riddle University. The Wildcats (23-33) ended the season of rival Florida A&M (25-30) with a 9-3 victory.

A pitcher's duel turned into a one-sided slugfest in the fifth as BCU pushed across five runs off four hits. BCU chased out Rattler starter Dallas Oliver (3-7) after Adonis Lao singled, then Nate Sterijevski and Danny Rodriguez walked. Reliever Jamie Grant gave up a sacrifice fly to Jordan Stacy that pushed the Wildcat lead to 3-1, and Michael Deeb singled home Sterijevksi to make it a crooked frame.

Rodriguez boldly took third on a wild pitch, and Jameel Edney delivered a sac fly to centerfield that made the score 5-1.

The hit parade continued with RBI singles by Zach Spivey and Jordan Stacy and BCU left the inning with five runs off four hits through all nine batters.

The Wildcats added insurance in the seventh off pitcher Chandellor Benton. With two outs, Lao snuck a single under the outstretched body of FAMU first baseman Brian Davis. Spivey scored from third after previous stealing the bag before Mother Nature continued her unwelcome stay.

A lightning delay led to a pause of nearly 7:30 in the game with BCU leading 8-1 in the top of the seventh.

BCU answered the Rattler first inning Davis RBI double with a table-setting two-bagger by Edney. He scored two batters later as Corbin won a foot race to first on an infield single to Davis.

The Wildcats scratched across another run in the fourth after another leadoff double by Edney. Spivey laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Oliver fielded with intent to throw out Edney at third. However, his toss sailed wide into left field and BCU took its first lead when Edney touched home, 2-1.

Starter Anthony Maldonado pitched 4.1 innings with only one earned run off three hits to advance to 7-2. He walked two and picked up six strikeouts, including one to end the first though fourth innings. The MEAC Pitcher of the Year has now struck out at least five batters in 10 of his 11 starts.

David Mata through 1.2 innings with three hits and a strikeout before the weather delay. Isaak Guiterrez gained his first save of the season with two runs and two strikeouts over three innings.

The Wildcats advance to play Coppin State in the elimination bracket, with the winner taking on North Carolina A&T State in the Championship round. Visit www.MEACsports.com for the most up-to-date schedule and bracket.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS SPORTS INFORMATION