Big Runs Early Lead Bethune-Cookman Past FIU, 6-3

MIAMI, Fla. - The bottom third of Bethune-Cookman's order helped the Wildcats to front-load runs for an early lead, en route to a 6-3 win over FIU, in the teams' second meeting of the year. Paced by Jake Welch's first career home run, the Wildcats took the lead and retained it with strong pitching throughout.

Brashad Johnson led off the second with B-CU's first hit of the day, setting in motion the Wildcats' first and largest scoring inning. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, eight-hole batter Carlos Delgado came through on a 1-2 count with an RBI single through the left side.

Next up and batting ninth, freshman designated hitter Jake Welch changed the face of the game, beating a 3-2 count by crushing his first career home run, a three-run shot no less, to left field for the 4-0 B-CU lead.

FIU third baseman Mike Martinez, who had a part in all FIU runs, ended the shutout in the third with an RBI single to shallow left, two outs deep.

Back-to-back FIU errors loaded the bases for the Wildcats in the fourth, setting the opportunity for Josh Johnson's sacrifice fly. B-CU added another sac fly in the eighth, this time for Juan Pizarro, concluding B-CU's scoring over the Panthers.

FIU took stabs at coming back, but were only able to tack up a pair of runs; first Martinez added his sixth home run of the year to left field, with empty bases, in the sixth. The Panthers scored their final run on a fielder's choice in the eighth, falling to B-CU 6-3.

Starter Montana Durapau (3-5) collected the win after a six-inning outing, allowing only one earned run, walking just one, and logging four strikeouts. The sophomore only had one inning in which he got jammed up, but responded with true command of the next two innings.

Bryan Rivera entered in middle relief, holding it down for the Wildcats to the final frame, as Jordan Dailey collected his tenth save of the year on batters retired in order.

Welch had the most important hit, with the 3-RBI homer for 1-3 batting, while David Lee and Nick Johnson each went 2-4 and each scored a run to lead the Wildcats at the plate.

Maryland Edges NSU in Pitchers' Duel, 1-0

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Charlie Haslup and Michael Boyden combined on a two-hit shutout as host Maryland edged Norfolk State in a 1-0 pitchers' duel on Tuesday evening at Bob Smith Stadium.

Thanks to clutch pitching and strong defense, the Spartans (16-24) hung tough with the Terrapins (29-19) in their first game against an ACC opponent since facing Virginia in 2006. But Haslup and Boyden kept the NSU offense at bay.

NSU starter Chris Horne pitched seven strong innings, allowing only one run on six hits. But that run proved to be the difference. Horne pitched around some trouble in the opening innings, stranding four Maryland base runners in the first three frames, before the Terrapins broke through in the fourth. Horne retired the first two batters of the inning. But Ryan Holland doubled and scored on Korey Wacker's RBI single for what proved to be the game's only run.

The Spartans managed just three base runners in the contest, which lasted just 1 hour, 48 minutes - NSU's fastest nine-inning game of the season. Sophomore outfielder Tyon Ore singled with one out in the second, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. In the fifth, senior catcher Chris Warren singled with two outs, but was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Officially, NSU stranded just one runner on the night. Junior first baseman Ross Cardwell walked with two outs in the seventh, but did not advance past first.

Haslup (5-4) went seven innings, allowing just the two hits and one walk while striking out seven. Boyden retired all six hitters he faced in the final two innings to earn the save. He struck out five of the six batters.

Horne (4-5) took the loss despite his best start of the season. He matched his season high with the seven innings pitched, and the one earned run he allowed is his lowest total in the four starts he has made. Horned walked three and struck out three. Jordan Egan pitched a 1-2-3 ninth in relief for NSU.

Coppin State Falls to Navy, 17-12

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Ian Arciaga had two hits and drove in a career high five runs and Alex Brown added four runs batted in, but Andrew Hahn went 4-for-4 with six RBI to lead Navy to a 17-12 non-conference victory over Coppin State on Tuesday at Max Bishop Stadium.

Arciaga had a bases-loaded double and a two-run double to pace the Coppin State offensive attack, while Brown added a two-run triple and a two-run single.

Coppin State (1-42) also got two hits and two RBI from Aaron Jones and an RBI from John Walls.

Hahn led a 15-hit Navy attack with his four hits and six RBI, while Dave Milanes added two hits and three runs batted in.

Navy jumped out to a 12-5 lead and then held off a Coppin State rally to improve to 23-26 on the season.

The Eagles took an early lead behind the bat of Arciaga.

Mike Wright led off the game with a walk and Jones and Brown were hit by a pitch to load the bases with no out. Arciaga then delivered a bases-clearing double to right center that gave Coppin State an early 3-0 lead.

Navy struck for two runs in the bottom of the second inning and took the lead for good by scoring five times in the bottom of the third inning. Hahn sparked the five-run inning with a two-run triple.

Coppin State rallied with two runs in the top of the fourth inning as Brown hit a two-run single that scored Wright and Jordan McNair.

The Midshipmen responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to expand the lead to 12-5.

The Eagles would fight back again, this time drawing to within 12-9 by scoring four times in the top of the sixth inning.

Wright walked to lead off the inning and came home on a double to left center by Jones.

Arciaga then brought home Jones and Brown with his second double of the day bringing CSU to within 12-8.

Walls brought home the Eagles final run of the inning on an RBI groundout that scored Zach Hawk.

Navy added a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning, three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and another run in the eighth inning to push the lead to 17-9.

Coppin State mounted one more rally in the ninth inning.

Walls walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on defensive indifference. Jordan Ellis walked and Walls advanced to third when Wright reached on a fielder's choice.