Miller, Nardone lead Hornets past Retrievers
DOVER, Del. – D.J. Miller was five-for-five with two runs batted in and Aaron Nardone had a homer and three RBI to lead Delaware State to a 16-9 win over Maryland-Baltimore County at Soldier Field today.
Miller had four singles and a double to raise his average to .492 this season. The five hits marked a career-high for Miller, who has hit in nine straight and 16 of the last 17 games.
He ranked third among all NCAA Div. I players in hitting this season entering the week.
Nardone smacked a solo homer in the third and a two-run single in the seventh to tie for the team lead with 15 RBI this season.
The Hornets had 14 hits in the contest. Cameron Cecil and Mike Alexander collected two each.
Delaware State opened the scoring with two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.
DSU led 2-1 when Nardone hit his third homer of the season over the fence in right center to give the Hornets a two-run lead.
Delaware State added three runs in the fourth to open up a 6-1 lead. Cameron Onderko doubled in the first run and the other two were the result of UMBC errors.
Miller singled in a run in the fifth to give the Hornets a 7-1 lead.
UMBC scored five runs on just two hits in the seventh inning to get back into the game. The Retrievers took advantage of two walks, two errors, a wild pitch and hit batsman during the inning. UMBC had runners on second and first with one out when the Hornets turned a double-play to end the rally and hang on to a 7-6 lead.
DSU responded with nine runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain control of the lead.
Nardone and Ron Farley had two-run singles, while Miller doubled in a run in the inning. The Hornets also scored runs on a bases loaded walk, a hit batter with the bases loaded, an error; and a balk in the inning.
UMBC collected 12 hits in the contest. Hunter Dolshun had three hits and a run batted in, while Manny Colon was two-for-four with two RBI for the Retrievers.
Starter Harry Thomas (1-1) allowed four hits and one run, while striking out five batters in four innings to earn the win for the Hornets.
UMBC starter Mike Gomez (1-1) was tagged with the loss.
In addition to the 25 runs, the teams combined for 26 hits, eight errors and 15 walks. Delaware State used six pitchers in the game, while four took the mound for the Retrievers.
The Hornets improved to 12-8 this season. UMBC fell to 5-15.
Delaware State returns to action on Wednesday at Towson. Game time is 3 p.m. in Towson, Md.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
FIU Surges Past Bethune-Cookman
MIAMI - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (15-15) allowed FIU (23-6) too many opportunities, as the Panthers capitalized on free bases to surmount an early Wildcats lead and hold on for the 8-4 victory on Tuesday night at FIU Baseball Stadium.
While B-CU recorded just a pair of hits across the first three frames, the Wildcats ramped up in the fourth, opening with consecutive singles from third baseman Jordan Robinson and second baseman Matt Noble. Right fielder Josh Johnson capitalized on the opportunity, connecting on a Robby Kalaf hanging breaking ball for an RBI single to outer left field, taking the 1-0 advantage.
That was hardly it for the Wildcats in the frame, as left fielder Bryant Munoz reached on a fielder’s choice to send Noble home, then Johnson crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Munoz capped off the four-run inning, scoring from third on first baseman Eric Sams’ infield RBI single.
A one-out Josh Anderson walk came back to bite reliever Christopher Waltermire in the bottom half of the inning, as he crossed the plate on a Brandon Gomez RBI single to right field, putting FIU on the board and trimming the B-CU lead to 4-1.
With two outs away and two runners on, the Wildcats opted to go for the force out via the first intentional walk of the season. Edwin Rios took a 2-2 pitch to center field on a line drive for two RBI, sparking the Panthers. Two more runs came in on B-CU miscues to grant FIU its first lead at 5-4.
The Panthers expanded on their lead in the sixth, making it three consecutive scoring innings, capping off the FIU scoring, first off Aramis Garcia’s sacrifice fly to left field and ending in a two-run Rios double to go up 8-4.
The Wildcats struggled in attacking the strikezone, allowing 11 walks and five wild pitches among the six pitchers who took the mound for Bethune-Cookman. Taking the loss for the Wildcats, Donte Lindsay (0-1). For FIU, reliever Mike Ellis (5-2) threw 2.1 innings.
In spite of the deficit, hits were tied between the teams at 9-9. Sams paced the Wildcats with a 3-for-5 hitting performance, recording one RBI. Johnson went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
The Wildcats remain in south Florida through the midweek, as they travel to Coral Gables to rematch with Miami on Wednesday night. When the Wildcats and Hurricanes met on March 11, the Wildcats topped UM, 5-2.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com