Spartans fall to Toledo at Furman First Pitch Invitational
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Five different Toledo players had two hits each, and Rockets starter Cameron Palmer allowed just one run in five innings in an 11-3 win over Norfolk State on Sunday afternoon in the Spartans’ final game in the season-opening Furman First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field.
The loss drops the Spartans to 0-3, while Toledo is 1-1.
Kyle Vaas was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for NSU. He was the only Spartan with more than one hit. Zach Markel was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two walks.
Deion Tansel, Dan Zuchowski, Tyler Baar, Jacob North and Zach Michael had two hits each for the Rockets.
Palmer (1-0) allowed four hits and one run in five innings of work. Corey Haynes (0-1) was saddled with the loss for NSU. The junior righty, making his first start as a Spartan, allowed four hits and three runs in four innings.
NSU is back in action next weekend when it hosts the Spartan Classic at Marty L. Miller Field from Friday through Sunday. The round-robin event starts at 11 a.m. Friday as the Spartans face Buffalo. Villanova and Quinnipiac will also compete in the event.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Despite Opportunities, Bethune-Cookman Drops Rubber Match to Cal State Northridge
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Locked in another defensive chess match to close out the finale of the three-game series with Cal State Northridge, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats failed to convert on offensive opportunities and fell to the Matadors, 2-0, on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
As expected, pitching and defense was the emphasis for both teams in Sunday’s rubber match, with scoreless action continuing through five complete innings. Starter Scott Garner maintained a no-hitter through those five frames, but the Matadors broke through with a three-hit inning in the top of the sixth. Using the spark, CSN put up runs in consecutive innings, using RBI from first baseman Alexis Mercado and shortstop Brett Balkan to take a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats were not without opportunities, with 10 runners left on base, including bases-loaded situations in the bottom of the third and seventh, but couldn’t convert to bring the score back to even.
With the loss, CSN takes the series and B-CU falls to 1-2 on the year. However, the two losses came by a combined three runs.
Garner takes the loss, pitching 6.1 innings with four hits, two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
For Cal State Northridge, starter Jordan Johnson (1-0) earned the win, throwing 5.1 innings with five strikeouts.
Reliever Michael Coates picked up his first save for his appearance in the ninth.
Offensively, left fielder Bryant Munoz went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return to action next weekend, Feb. 21-23, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, in a three-game series with Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles (3-1) completed a four-game weekend series on Sunday, topping Rhode Island in the finale, 4-3.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com