B-CU Lacks Late-Inning Runs in 3-1 UNF Loss
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Already boasting a pair of extra-innings games, the multi-date 2013 series between Bethune-Cookman and North Florida ended Tuesday night at Harmon Stadium with the Ospreys (21-10) holding off the Wildcats (14-17) for a 3-1 decision in the finale.
The Wildcats put the first run in the scorebook, as Josh Johnson led off with a chopped shot to shortstop, reaching and advancing on an error. After stealing third, Johnson was batted in on a grounder from David Lee.
However, the 1-0 lead was short-lived, as UNF second baseman Drew Weeks drifted a leadoff home run to left center on the third pitch of the frame. Making his first collegiate start, Lenny Martinez recovered to pitch 3 2/3 effective innings before running into trouble late in the fourth.
Facing a bases loaded situation with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Byron Ferguson allowed a four-pitch walk for a RBI, granting UNF its first lead over B-CU, 2-1. After the score, Ferguson was quick to finish the frame, inducing a flyout to center.
Ferguson held the Ospreys to just three hits in through the next three innings, with no additional runs on the board.
UNF’s eighth-inning leadoff batter, Ryan Roberson, reached on a throwing error. It would prove to be the insurance run, as pinch runner Garrick Ferguson replaced Roberson and went on to score on an error during a force-out play at third.
Corbin Olmstead earned his third save of the season, and the win for starter Evan Incinelli (3-0), downing the Wildcats in the top of the ninth for the 3-1 UNF win.
Though the Wildcats logged only three base hits on the board, B-CU’s hitters squared up balls throughout the game, with UNF taking away several opportunities via great plays. B-CU only logged three strikeouts in the non-conference contest.
Martinez (0-1) took the loss, allowing two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings and striking out one batter. Ferguson threw 3 1/3 with one strikeout and three hits allowed, while Jordan Dailey threw one complete frame with two strikeouts.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com.
FAMU falls to FIU, 7-4
MIAMI, Fla. - The Florida A&M Baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to FIU as both teams combined for three home runs in the game at FIU Baseball Stadium in a non-conference match up.
FIU hit a pair of home runs while FAMU recorded a solo homer.
The Panthers finished the contest with 10 hits, while the Rattlers garnered six hits in the game.
FIU (16-12) was paced by Roche Woodard as he finished with a team high three hits, while seven Panther batters recorded one hit each.
FAMU (2-28) was led by Bennie Robinson and Hunter Barfield as they both finished with two hits each for the Rattlers.
FIU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an Edwin Rios two-run homer to right field.
The Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth on a T.J. Shantz three-run homer, giving FIU a 5-0 lead.
A Michael Birdsong solo homer to left center cuts FIU’s lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth.
FIU plated a run in the bottom of the fifth as Zach Sweety scored on a Roche Woodard single, making the score 6-1 in favor of the Panthers.
The Panthers picked another run in their half of the sixth as Oscar Aguirre singled up the middle scoring Aramis Garcia from first base, extending the FIU lead to 7-1.
Aaron Smith scored the Rattlers second run of the game as he scored on a FIU infielder’s error. Smith would lead off the top of the seventh with a single to right field, and then would steal second and third, before scoring on the error, making the score 7-2 in favor of FIU.
The Rattlers picked up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth as Marlon Gibbs singled to right field, scoring both Birdsong and Peter Jackson for the 7-4 finale.
For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com.
Tides Top NSU 9-2 in Exhibition Game
NORFOLK, Va. – Yamaico Navarro and Russ Canzler each went 3-for-4 to lead the Norfolk Tides to a 9-2 exhibition win over Norfolk State before 7,878 fans at Harbor Park.
After a scoreless first inning, the Tides scored four in the second and three in the third inning to pull away. L.J. Hoes, Chris Dickerson, Canzler and Danny Valencia had consecutive two-out run-scoring hits in the second. Luis Exposito highlighted the third inning with a two-run single.
Despite the loss, the Spartans had their best offensive showing against the Baltimore Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate. NSU notched a total of four hits against the Tides in shutout losses in the previous two meetings (2010 and 2011), but had nine hits and two runs on Tuesday. Second baseman Cody Ellis went 2-for-3 and knocked in NSU’s first run with a groundout in the fifth. His groundout came following consecutive singles by Ryan Montgomery and Robert Barefoot.
The Spartans added a run on three hits in the sixth. Andre Moore reached on an infield single, and Corey Patrick followed with a single of his own. Robert Depp then scored Moore with a hard single up the middle.
Barefoot, Chase Kyriacou and Kyle Vaas went 1-for-2 for NSU, while Montgomery was 1-3. Moore, Depp and Patrick were all 1-for-1.
Troy Applin, Ryan Shook and Raymond Morton all threw scoreless innings for the Spartan pitchers.
Chris Dickerson and Jonathan Schoop added two hits each for the Tides.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com.
Hornets Outplay Tigers For Seventh Straight Win
Dover, Del. - The Delaware State baseball team collected 11 hits and took advantage of four Towson errors in a 10-7 victory over the Tigers at Soldier Field. The Hornets have won their last seven games to improve to 19-7 this season. Towson fell to 13-14.
Aaron Nardone was 3-for-5 with two runs batted in, while J.P. Frey, Cameron Cecil and Mike Alexander collected two hits each for the Hornets. Nardone had two doubles in the contest to give him a team-high seven this season.
Towson opened the scoring with two runs off Delaware State starter Zach Adkins in the top of the first inning.
Delaware State scored five runs on just three hits in the second inning to take the lead. The Hornets tallied three runs in the inning on Towson errors and a fourth on a wild pitch. Alexander singled to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Eddie Sorondo. Hassan Evans followed with a single to put DSU runners on third and first. Nick Arrue was at the plate when Alexander scored the Hornets’ first run on a wild pitch by Towson starter Kevin Ross. Two batters later, Frey singled to right field to score Evans with the tying run. The next batter, Cameron Cecil, reached on a throwing error by Towson shortstop Hunter Bennett. Cameron Onderko scored on the play to give the Hornets a 3-2 lead. After a walk to Ryan Haas, Nardone reached on an error by Tiger second baseman Pat Fitzgerald. Frey crossed the plate on the play to stretch DSU’s lead to 4-2. Alexander, batting for the second time in the inning, reached on an error by Towson pitcher Ross. Cecil scored on the play, giving the Hornets a 5-2 lead.
Towson scored two runs in the third inning off Adkins and one in the fourth off Hornet reliever Bobby Brown to tie the game at 5-5.
Delaware State answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. Cecil started the rally with a one-out single. Haas followed with a walk to give the Hornets runners at second and first with one out. Nardone followed with a hard ground ball to second. The ball took a bad hop off the side of the head of Towson second baseman Fitzgerald and rolled into the outfield for a double. Cecil scored on the play to put the Hornets on top 6-5. Fitzgerald was shaken up but stayed in the game.
The Hornets padded their lead with four runs in the fifth. Cecil and Haas had run scoring doubles, while Nardone and Alexander singled in runs in the inning. Alexander’s hit gave DSU a 10-5 lead.
The Tigers scored two runs off DSU reliever George Michael in the sixth to pull to within 10-7.
Delaware State reliever Zach Candeloro retired all three batters he faced in the eighth; and Derek Marshallsea pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the season for the Hornets.
Haas was one-for-two with a RBI in the contest, giving him seven hits and 10 runs batted in his last 11 at bats (.636).
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com.