Bethune-Cookman pounded out 13 runs on 10 hits over the course of three critical innings in order to secure a 13-2 victory and the series sweep of the Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sunday afternoon at Hawks Stadium in Princess Anne, Md.
Emotions were running high as it was “Senior Day” for the Fighting Hawks of UMES (9-36, 5-13 MEAC) as senior shortstop Eric Gaines started off the day with a single and a stolen base to help get into scoring position right off the bat. Joel Gonzalez followed that up with a run-scoring single to left field to put the home-standing Fighting Hawks on top 1-0.
Gonzalez later scored on an errant throw from B-CU (24-22, 13-1 MEAC) pitcher Hiram Burgos to put UMES on top, 2-0 after the first inning of play.
A pitcher’s duel between Burgos and UMES’ Kenny Richardson proceeded that until the fourth frame when the Wildcats offensive attacked reared its ugly head in Hawks Stadium for all to see.
With the first two batters reaching base safely, sophomore first baseman Alejandro Jimenez collected an RBI single to right field that scored Luis Gonzalez on the play easily from second base. That was followed up by a two-run single to left by sophomore Patrick Jones to put the Wildcats out in front, 3-2.
After stealing third, Patrick Jones was brought in the next at-bat when catcher Drew Clark collected his third sacrifice fly of the year with a high pop to centerfield.
That score put B-CU up, 4-2 heading into the home-half of the fourth inning.
Wildcats starter Hiram Burgos settled in nicely on the mound after a rocky start?mostly due to errors, in the first inning to limit the Hawks to just two (2) hits through the next six frames of work for the young sophomore on the hill.
Meanwhile, the Bethune-Cookman offense began to take control of UMES starter Richardson as the Wildcats tacked on another run in the sixth before posting an eight-run outburst in the eighth inning to put the run-rule in effect.
The first seven (7) batters reached base safely via walks/hit-by-pitches and base hits in the eighth inning to put B-CU ahead 9-0 at that point. Over the course of that time, UMES went through two pitchers, including pulling the string on starter Richardson just three batters into the order.
Relief hurler Brian White, having seen action yesterday in relief as well, faced just three batters and allowed two hits and three runs before being relieved himself by Carl Huber.
Drew Clark collected an RBI single, as well as redshirt freshman Dexter Williams pulling in a two-run single to right center that plated Chris Brown and Jos? Ortiz-Rivera on the play.
With the Wildcats up 13-2 at that point, they went with freshman Felix Machado to end the game for them on the hill.
Machado allowed just one hit as senior Eric Gaines finished off his career at home for the Hawks with a single to go 2-for-4 on the day, before B-CU picked up a ground-out and strikeout to end the game in eight innings (10-run rule).
The win went to Burgos who evened his record at 5-5 on the year, as well as lowering his ERA to a MEAC-low 2.47. Burgos went seven innings for the Wildcats, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts.
The loss went to Richardson for UMES who fell to 1-5 on the year.
The Fighting Hawks were led at the plate by senior Gaines who was 2-for-4, while Joel Gonzalez and James Walls ... as well as catcher Justin Hoban gained hits themselves.
At the plate, the Wildcats were led by left fielder Patrick Jones with a blistering 3-for-4 day, including one run and three RBI. Jimenez collected two runs on a hit, while teammate Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with two runs scored himself. Dexter Williams was 1-for-1 with two RBI.