Stokes' Two Homers and Five-RBI Pace Wildcats Against North Carolina Central
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Josh Johnson's tenth inning RBI single made all the difference in breaking the deadlock of the slugfest turned pitcher's duel in the finale of the MEAC series with North Carolina Central, securing the 11-10 win for B-CU. The victory makes it two straight series sweeps this week, extending the Wildcats' win streak to seven.
By the numbers, the two teams combined for 30 hits, 25 runs, six lead changes, four ties, and four errors; needless to say, it was one wild roller coaster of a game.
North Carolina Central took advantage of two B-CU errors in the opening frame to take the early lead, but the Wildcats were quick to respond, cycling the order in the bottom half to rattle off six runs, highlighted by an Anthony Stokes three-run homer past the second deck in left center.
The hits kept coming on both sides of the field, with NCCU scoring runs in four of the first five innings to overtake the Wildcats' retaliations twice in mid-game. In the fifth, NCCU created the most cushion since the game's opening inning, taking a 10-7 lead with success in the gaps, making a tough situation for reliever Jairo Acevedo, who entered after the first run scored in the inning.
Heading to extra innings, Beverlin went with Jordan Dailey (3-2, 4 SV) on the hill, who already had two saves and a win under his belt on the week. The junior set the tone by snatching a line drive shot right back to him by the leadoff hitter, retiring the Eagles in order.
Led by Stokes' performance of 3-5, with five RBI and two runs scored, B-CU matched a season-high 15 hits from earlier in the week versus Harvard, also an 11-run game. Also hitting big for the Wildcats, Brandon Turner turned in a 3-5 performance with one run scored and two RBI. Freshman catcher Lenny Martinez hit a two-RBI double as well, and moved the scoring run into position for both the tie and the go-ahead.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Hornets Falter To Cornell In Series Finale
Dover, Del. (Mar. 18, 2012) --- Eight Delaware State pitchers surrendered 19 hits and a season-high 13 walks in a 19-6 loss to Cornell in the series finale at Soldier Field this afternoon.
The Hornets dropped two of the three games in the series to fall to 11-8-1 this season. Cornell improved to 9-2.
Frank Hager was 4-for-4 with three runs batted in for the Big Red. Brandon Lee (3-for-4) and Ben Swinford (2-for-4) also drove in three runs for Cornell, which had 12 players with at least one hit.
Joey Babuca (1-for-3) drove in two runs for Delaware State, while Ryan Haas, Eddie Sorondo and JP Frey had two hits each for the Hornets.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Savannah State Wins The Series Over Rattlers With 12-6 Win
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 18) - Savannah State won the series as they defeated Florida A&M 12-6 in the rubber match, Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.
FAMU (4-17, 3-3 MEAC) finished the contest with nine hits as the Rattlers had nine players to finish with nine hits each.
SSU (8-12, 2-1 MEAC) tallied game high 19 hits as Matthew Oglesby went four-for-five from the plate to lead the Tigers.
Rexford Davis (2-2) picked up the win for SSU as he pitched seven innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs and striking out six in the 29 batters he faced, Thomas Barwick (0-4) received the loss for FAMU as he gave up six hits, five earned runs and striking out two in two and two-third innings on the mound.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.ssuathletics.com
NSU Wins Error-Filled Contest over UMES, 5-2
NORFOLK, Va. - A five-run fourth-inning was all the offense Norfolk State needed as the Spartans won an error-filled game, 5-2, over UMES to sweep the weekend series from the Hawks. All five runs scored for NSU on a pair of errors during one play and two wild pitches on a cool, sunny Sunday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.
Sophomore Justin Bhatti (2-2) was the recipient of the wild fourth inning, picking up the win after allowing just two unearned runs with five strikeouts in seven innings. Chris Horne pitched two shutout innings in relief for the save as NSU improved to 5-12 overall, 3-3 in conference play.
Sophomore designated hitter Cameron Day got it going in the fourth as he fought off a pitch on the inside part of the plate and dropped it to the right of the center fielder. Sophomore left fielder Tyon Ore followed with a bloop hit to the area between the second baseman, center fielder and right fielder, sending Day to third.
Junior third baseman Ryan Montgomery got plunked by the pitch on the back of the shoulder to load the bases, and a wild pitch scored the first run of the inning for NSU. UMES starter Jesus Hernandez then issued a walk to freshman right fielder James Essex to reload the bases.
All three runners came home when Hawk shortstop Joshua James let junior Ross Cardwell's hit go right through his legs and left fielder Stephen Bull had trouble fielding the ball in left-center as well. That second error allowed Essex to score all the way from first for a 4-0 lead.
A groundout moved Cardwell to third, and another wild pitch scored the fifth and final run of the inning.
Hernandez (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up all five runs, four earned, on three hits with four walks in 3.1 innings.
Zachary Saca shut down the Spartans in relief, allowing just one hit in 4.2 innings of work. The Hawks remained winless on the season at 0-19 overall, 0-3 in MEAC play.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.comn or www.umeshawks.com