Bethune-Cookman secured their third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball title on Sunday with a 13-2 victory over Norfolk State at Marty L. Miller Field in Norfolk, Va. For the Wildcats, it was their 11th title in the last 13 years.
NSU (25-24) was playing their sixth game in four (4) days. They elected to go with ace Joey Seal on the mound after he pitched seven innings in a start against North Carolina A&T just three days prior. B-CU, on the other hand, had weekend starter Eric Thomas ready to go for his first action in more than a week and a half.
The Wildcats (36-20) jumped on Seal in the third inning after center fielder Jos? Ortiz reached on a fielder’s choice and sophomore Justin Hoyte singled and advanced to allow two men in scoring position with one out. That’s when MEAC Player of the Year Jos? Lozada walked to load the bases. Osvaldo Torres hit a fielder’s choice RBI to second base that pushed in Ortiz for the 1-0 B-CU advantage.
The Maroon and Gold expanded their lead in the bottom of the next frame when junior outfielder Patrick Jones lined a single back to the pitcher’s mound allowing catcher Jeremy Ruperto to score on the play following an error on the play. B-CU led 2-0 after four innings of baseball.
B-CU added three runs in the fifth to really open up the game at 5-0.
“The key was the fact that we knew Norfolk State had very few pitchers left that were fresh, and we needed to get to the bullpen,” stated B-CU’s Jos? Lozada. “We needed to get to the pen and make Joey Seal go deep into the count because we knew he was going to be tired sooner or later after pitching the other day.”
Leon Schabacker relieved NSU’s Seal on the mound, though Schabacker had pitched a complete game on Friday afternoon.
Hoyte walked and Lozada singled to score Hoyte from second after he advanced on a passed ball. That was when the NSU head coach decided to bring in Quinn Bright out of the bullpen?after he pitched seven innings yesterday. Senior Neal Jones immediately singled to bring in Lozada. After that, B-CU crossed Jones with the help of freshman Emmanuel Castro’s single through the left side.
B-CU then scored eight more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to run out to a commanding 13-0 run.
With the bases loaded in the seventh, Patrick Jones took a walk to bring in Castro from third. Another walk was issued to Ortiz that brought in Jeremy Ruperto.
NSU got their lone runs of the game in the top of the ninth inning as right fielder Jerrod Farley took a Christopher Chapman pitch over the left field wall that also scored pinch hitter Chris Williams for the final score of 13-2.
The win went to Eric Thomas on the hill for the ?Cats as the junior was phenomenal with seven innings pitched allowing just six hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts. Thomas improved his record on the year to 9-0 and lowered his season ERA to 2.04.
“Eric [Thomas] was great today, and that is to say the least,” expressed B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez. “He had outstanding movement and great command today with just a superb outing for us. That is the type of person you want and need in a championship game.”
The loss went to Seal who was a true warrior in his second game of the week for the Spartans. He fell to 7-4 on the season after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts in four innings of work.
NSU was led by shortstop Moriba George and Brad Stephenson with two hits each, as well as Farley with two hits including the homerun.
The Maroon and Gold were led by six (6) players with multiple hits. That includes Ortiz with two hits and two runs, as well as Hoyte with two runs and two hits and Lozada with three runs and two hits and a RBI. Torres and Neal Jones both had two RBI each.
“This is a great win for us and are just continuing to have a great season with good hitting and outstanding pitching,” continued Melendez. “We are going to Regionals again, and this time we know we have a better chance with our pitching. Winning the MEAC is always a blessing against good teams in this league ... but our prize is trying to win a Regional and move to the next level.”
Bethune-Cookman now waits until next Monday afternoon to see where they will travel for the upcoming NCAA Baseball Tournament which begins on May 30.
The 2008 MEAC Baseball All-Tournament Team is listed below
Outstanding Performer:
Jose Lozada, Bethune-Cookman
Outstanding Coach:
Mervyl Melendez, Bethune-Cookman
2008 All-Tournament Team
Brad Stephenson, Norfolk State
Jeremy Jones, North Carolina A&T
Jose Lozada, Bethune-Cookman
Nick Rogers, North Carolina A&T
Marquis Frink, North Carolina A&T
Osvaldo Torres, Bethune-Cookman
Ken Richardson, Maryland E. Shore
Chris Joyce, Norfolk State
Ryan Mailen, Delaware State
Joe McIntyre, North Carolina A&T
Darryl Evans, Florida A&M
Jerrod Farley, Norfolk State
Moriba George, Norfolk State