Wildcats Secure Sweep of the Rattlers with 4-0 Shutout
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (18-17, 10-5 MEAC) were steady both offensively and defensively in solidifying the complete sweep of the Florida A&M Rattlers (2-32, 2-13 MEAC) in a 4-0 shutout, Sunday at Moore-Kittles Field.
B-CU opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Anthony Stokes led off with a double to deep center, then scoring on a fielding error picking up Clay Middleton’s grounder.
Despite the narrow advantage, the Wildcats played in control and added some cushion in the top of the fifth, as Josh Johnson got the Wildcats started with a double deep down the left field line. Starting his second game back in the outfield, Johnson scored from second as Eros Modena dropped a Texas League single into center field to put the Cats on top 2-0.
Combining with B-CU starter Ali Simpson, FAMU’s William Carrasco turned the game to a pitcher’s duel early and shut down several Wildcats’ scoring opportunities before being relieved early in the ninth inning, when a pair of two-way players allowed B-CU the opportunity to build in some insurance runs.
Johnson led off the ninth against Carrasco with a triple deep to left center. With their starter well over 100 pitches on the day, the Rattlers turned to Kendal Weeks, who started at shortstop. Brandon Turner’s hot shot line drive chipped the first base bag to stay fair and allowed the senior an RBI double. Turner reached third on a wild pitch and capped off the Wildcats’ scoring, crossing the plate easily on Modena’s RBI single through the left side. FAMU third baseman Reginald Grant then took the mound and closed out the frame for FAMU with minimal damage.
Simpson (3-4) provided the Wildcats with seven effective innings for the win, maintaining the shutout, while allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out five Rattlers batsmen. Simpson gave way to Jordan Dailey in the eighth, who collected his sixth save of the year after allowing just two hits and striking out three across his two-inning appearance.
Modena and Johnson led the Wildcats at the plate, each batting 3-for-5 in the contest, with Modena logging a pair of RBI. Of the Wildcats’ 11 hits in the FAMU finale, seven were for extra bases, including six doubles and a triple.
This series sweep not only spans the weekend, but also the season, as B-CU is now 6-0 against the Rattlers on the year, providing a lift for the Wildcats in the MEAC standings.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.famuathletics.com
NCCU Salvages Game In Series Against North Carolina A&T
GREENSBORO, N.C. –North Carolina Central got an outstanding pitching effort along with timely hitting late to take the series finale from arch-rival North Carolina A&T by the final score of 4-2 on Sunday, April 7 at War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
With the win, NCCU (21-14, 9-6 MEAC) has tied the modern day record for wins in a season set by the 2007 squad who finished the year 21-24.
Sunday’s final contest was a defensive battle from the get-go as both teams reached base with leadoff singles only to fall short. The Eagles threw out A&T’s Luke Tendler at home in the bottom of the first to keep the Aggies off the board, while Akeem Hood was left stranded when NCCU couldn’t drive him in.
In the bottom of the second, when A&T’s Dairio Little led off the frame with a single, he was later caught stealing by freshman backstop James Dey which was followed up by back-to-back strikeouts by Terry McNabb.
The play of the day came in the fifth inning when led started it all off with a triple to left center field. After a Mark Nales groundout to third, Stefan Jordan hit a fly ball to right field in which junior Ronald Thompson came up throwing, gunning Little at home to keep the game knotted up at 0-0.
In the top-half of the sixth, designated hitter Carter Williamson reached on a two-out walk and nearly scored on Spencer Franceschetti’s double to left field, but a perfect relay from Little to Tendler to Jordan at home stopped the maroon and gray in their tracks keeping the game scoreless.
NCCU made its move in the seventh with one out when redshirt sophomore Eric Kimber doubled over the center fielder’s head and then Dey drilled a single up the middle to drive in Kimber, scoring the first runs of the game to put the Eagles up 1-0. After Hood’s single advanced Dey to third, shortstop Zack Lee dropped down a sacrifice bunt to score Dey and put NCCU up 2-0. The third and final run of the frame came on a Luis Diaz single to left field allowing him to move up on the fielding error by Little that scored Hood to give the maroon and gray the 3-0.
From the fifth inning on, McNabb retired 12-of-13 batters that including back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth to keep the Aggie bats silent.
NCCU’s fourth run of the day came on a Williamson sacrifice fly, driving in Lee to seemingly put North Carolina AT away.
McNabb was on the mound in the ninth to finish his performance on the hill, and the junior nearly finished off the shutout, but Kelvin Freeman drilled his seventh home run of the year to cut the margin to 4-2, and that’s when senior closer Gavin Guarrera came in to earn his modern day record save No. 14 as the Eagles salvaged a game in the series winning 4-2 over the Aggies.
McNabb (4-3) pitched 8.2 innings scattering six hits, allowing two earned runs with a walk and five strikeouts in the win.|
North Carolina A&T (11-21, 7-7 MEAC) hurler Tyler Boone (1-3) threw 8.0 innings with three earned runs allowed with five strikeouts.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by Kimber who recorded his first three-hit game at NCCU going 3-for-4 with his first career double and a run scored. Hood ended up 2-for-5 with a run scored, while Diaz was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
Hornets Shut Down Spartans In Series Finale
Dover, Del. (Apr. 7, 2013) --- Elliott Gardner and George Michael combined for Delaware State’s sixth shutout of the season, and Mike Alexander had four hits to lead the Hornets to a 7-0 win over Norfolk State in a MEAC North contest at Soldier Field today.
Gardner (3-0) scattered seven singles and struck out five in 6.2 innings to earn the win. He has thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings. Norfolk State had runners on second and first with two outs in the seventh inning when Michael entered the game. He struck out NSU’s Cameron Day to end the threat.
Michael retired the Spartans without a hit in the eighth and ninth innings to record his third save of the season.
Delaware State opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alexander singled to lead off the inning. After he stole second, Hassan Evans singled up the middle to score Alexander with the game’s first run.
The Hornets added two runs in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Ryan Haas (2-fo-5; 2 RBI) singled in the first run. The second run of the inning crossed the plate when Cameron Onderko was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Delaware State opened up a 4-0 lead when Aaron Nardone (2-for-4) doubled in Eddie Sorondo in the seventh inning.
The Hornets closed out the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Haas doubled in his second run of the game and Alexander brought home a run on a fielder’s choice.
Alexander is now batting .404 this season. He also stole three bases in the contest to give him a team-high 23 this year (23-for-25). Delaware State had five stolen bases in the game.
J.P. Frey and Cameron Cecil also had two hits for the Hornets.
Delaware State has won eight of its last 10 games to stand at 20-9 this season. The Hornets are in first place in the MEAC North with a 10-2 mark, four games ahead of second place Norfolk State.
For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Eagles Complete Three-Game Sweep of UMES
BALTIMORE -- Jay Maletz went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs and Anderson Burgess picked up his first career victory with seven strong innings on the mound leading Coppin State to a 5-3 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday at Joe Cannon Stadium to complete a three-game series sweep.
The series sweep marked the Eagles first three-game sweep since the 2010 season and CSU improved to 9-19 overall and 6-5 in the MEAC.
Maletz had his second career multiple hit game and his first career multiple RBI game to lead the Eagles. Chris Kashangaki, Chris Godfrey and Nathan Pitts each had two hits as the Eagles pounded out 11 hits on the day.
It was more than enough offense for Burgess as he allowed just two runs, and one earned run, in seven innings to go along with six strikeouts. Michael Roberts worked the final two innings to pick up his third save of the season.
After spotting UMES (5-29, 2-10 MEAC) a run in the first inning the Eagles tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third inning.
Kashangaki singled to begin the inning and stole second to move into scoring position. Colin Dower followed with a base hit to right scoring Kashangaki and tying the game at 1-1.
UMES regained the lead with a run in the top of the fourth inning, but Coppin State took the lead for good by scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Alex Brown started the inning with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error on Godfrey's sacrifice bunt.
Jack Kraft tied the game at 2-2 when he lined a single to left scoring Brown.
Godfrey and Kraft moved up on a wild pitch and Maletz delivered a clutch two-run single scoring both runners and giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead. Maletz would extend the lead to 5-2 when he scored on a UMES fielding error later in the game.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.coppinstatesports.com