B-CU starter Eric Thomas pitched a complete game four-hitter over seven innings and the Wildcats erupted for scored 16 runs to beat North Carolina A&T, 16-1, in the semifinals of the 2009 MEAC Baseball Championship at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The Wildcats await the winner of tonight’s Florida A&M/ North Carolina A&T 6 p.m. matchup.
C. J. Lauriello and Chris Brown hit home runs to erupt the 12-hit attack. Senior catcher Drew Clark was 3-3 with three RBI in the victory over the Aggies (20-33). Justin Hoyte, Brown and Lauriello had two hits each to pace the offense.
Bethune-Cookman (31-26) scored one run in the first inning on a Lauriello home run to left field. The Wildcats tallied three runs in both the second and third inning to take a 7-1 lead after three stanzas.
The Wildcats scored eight runs in the fourth inning to put the game away. In the inning, Hoyte tallied both of his hits (single, double) and the inning also featured an RBI double by Emmanuel Castro and RBI singles from Ryan Durrence and Lauriello.
North Carolina A&T scored its run in the second inning on a RBI single by Nick Rogers.
B-CU's Thomas (7-5) struck out four Aggies and allowed one earned run in the complete game victory.
North Carolina A&T''s Blaine McCraw (1-8) took the loss pitching three innings and allowing 8 hits, 11 runs and walking four B-CU batters. Relievers Ryan Seller and Cyril Daniel pitched the final three innings for the Aggies.
Bethune-Cookman will compete for its fourth straight MEAC baseball championship Sunday at 2 p.m. and the ninth title in 10 years for head coach Mervyl Melendez.
Admission for the 2009 MEAC Baseball Championship is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages four and older, students and senior citizens. Ticket prices for the entire tournament are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages four and older, students and senior citizens. Children ages three (3) and under are admitted free. Tickets are available at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, Florida.
For more information on MEAC Baseball, logo on to www.meacsports.com.