The Wildcats bats continued to be productive with 17 hits and combined with starting pitcher Joseph Munoz who pitched three-hit, shut-out ball over six innings -for a 10-0 MEAC win at Maryland Eastern Shore.
10th year Head Baseball Coach Mervyl Melendez registered his milestone 300th career win at B-CU. Melendez has led the Wildcats to eight MEAC championships in his first nine years and eight NCAA regional berths.
B-CU (24-21, 14-1, MEAC) is the three-time defending MEAC champion and will defend its title May 14-17 in Daytona Beach.
"The 300 wins is a compliment to all the B-CU players through the years and my coaching staff," said Melendez. "I've enjoyed every season, and all the teams have made me a better coach. I had no idea (about the 300th win).
In the 8th inning, C.J. (Lauriello) was on third base and said he was happy to be a part of the 300th win."
The players signed the game ball and all signed a souvenir 300-wins poster/plaque for Coach Melendez - and showered him a Gatorade bucket of water after the final out.
Munoz (3-5) faced one over the minimum - 19 batters, in the first six innings allowing three hits and the B-CU defense turning three double plays behind Munoz (4 overall in the game). Munoz walked one and struck out three in his top starting outing of 2009. Relievers Rayan Gonzalez and Andrew Tilka pitched the seventh and eighth innings completing the three-hit shutout.
Alejandro Jimenez opened the scoring with his second home run of the series with a solo blast in the first inning, his sixth of the season.
B-CU scored four runs on a hit batter and five singles in the third inning to go up 5-0 with run scoring hits from Alejandro Sanchez (two-run single), Patrick Jones, and C. J. Lauriello.
"We are playing better base ball now and all week (5 games) we played good baseball. We are hitting, playing defense and getting good starting pitching," said Melendez. "Our guys understand what it takes to get on top and put pressure on the opponent offensively."
On the weekend, B-CU had 50 hits in three games (16, 17, and 17 hits) and out-scored UMES 37-5