DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – There were a total of 32 runs scored in the doubleheader between North Carolina Central University and Bethune-Cookman, however the host Wildcats had the lion's share to pick up a doubleheader sweep over the Eagles, 15-5, and 7-5 on Saturday, March 18 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
GAME ONE:
NCCU (9-10, 2-3 MEAC) got on the board first with a single from
Zach Michalski (Belews Creek, N.C.) in the top of the first, but B-CU (13-6, 3-2 MEAC) quickly fired back with eight unanswered runs from the first through the third innings to lead 8-1.
The Eagles got two runs back over the next two frames on an RBI groundout from
Jake Raby (Granite Falls, N.C.) and a Wildcat error, but B-CU quickly brought back both runs in the bottom of the fifth on a double from Jameel Edney (West Palm Beach, Fla.).
The last two runs for the Eagles came in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly from
Conrad Kovalcik (Detroit, Mich.) and a fielder's choice from
Evan Holland (Erial, N.J.) before the Wildcats drove in five unanswered runs to finish the game.
B-CU closed the game with a two-run homer from Jordan Stacy (Jacksonville, Fla.), followed by an RBI triple two batters later from Kyle Corbin (Orlando, Fla.) in the bottom of the eighth.
GAME TWO:
NCCU sprinted ahead of the Wildcats with a big four-run inning in the second, with the big hit coming from
Dominic Cuevas (Gurnee, Ill.) who knocked a two-RBI double down the left field line. B-CU brought home a run on an error in the bottom of the third, but Cuevas brought the run right back on a sacrifice fly to keep the Eagles in front 5-1 in the top of the fourth.
B-CU flipped the game in the bottom of the frame as it struck for five runs with an RBI double from C. Parks and an RBI triple from Edney, however the other three runs came on a throwing error and a passed ball. The Wildcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after with an RBI single from Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.).
The Eagles were able to get the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, but the Wildcats held off NCCU for the win.
Game three of the series will be on Sunday, March 19 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.