Bennie Robinson’s Eighth Inning RBI Double Leads FAMU Over NCCU 9-8
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Bennie Robinson’s game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth pushed Florida A&M (24-24, 14-10 MEAC) to a 9-8 victory over North Carolina Central (19-31-1, 12-12 MEAC) on Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.
Ryan Kennedy’s three-run home run in the fifth tied the game at 7-7 before the Rattlers took the lead for good in the eighth. The win clinches the #2 seed in the Southern Division for FAMU.
The game was resumed from a suspended game due to rain on March 23. The game started with the Rattlers trailing 6-0 in the top of the second inning, with two outs and the bases loaded.
The win is the fifth straight for FAMU and its 11th straight win in games decided by one run. Robinson extended his consecutive games on base streak to 44 games.
Four Rattlers (Robinson, Kennedy, Ryan Hutson and Marlon Gibbs) recorded multiple hits on the day.
Brandon Fleming (5-4) worked a scoreless eighth and ninth inning for the win. Fleming only allowed one hit with two strikeouts. The pitching staff came in to the suspended game trailing 6-0 but only allowed two runs on the day which was enough to let the FAMU offense to get rolling. William Carrasco started the resumed game and only allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Christian Triplett, for the Eagles, lined out to first on the very first pitch of the game from Carrasco to strand the bases full.
The Rattlers offense started fast to cut the Eagle lead in half at 6-3 with three runs in the second inning. Hutson led off the bottom of the second with a double to left center. After Devin Perry lined out to the shortstop, Gibbs singled to left with one out to put runners on the corners. Kendal Weeks then smacked a two-run triple into right center to score both Hutson and Gibbs. Jeremy Barlow would plate Weeks from third with a sac fly to center for the third run of the inning.
Florida A&M quickly added another run in the third to make the score 6-4. Peter Jackson singled up the middle and came around to score on Kennedy’s one out double down the left line.
NCCU answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning on Carter Williamson’s sac fly to left that scored Carlos Ortiz, pushing the Eagle lead back to three at 7-4.
FAMU would fight all the way back to take the lead at 8-7 on four runs in the fifth inning. Kennedy’s three-run home run, his eighth of the season, tied the game at 7-7. Hutson doubled down the left line, advanced to third on a fly out by Perry, before coming home for the go ahead run as Gibbs reached on a throwing error by the second baseman.
The Eagles came right back to tie the game at 8-8 with a run in the top of the seventh. Eric Kimber and James Dey recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Kimber went to third on Dey’s single and scored the tying run from third as Christian Triplett hit into the 6-4-3 double play.
The Rattlers grabbed the lead for good and the final score of 9-8 in the eighth inning. Barlow struck out swinging and Jared Walker popped up to second base for the first two outs of the inning. Jackson then drew a walk to represent the winning run. Robinson followed as he ripped a two out RBI double into the left center gap scoring Jackson from first for the go ahead run.
Eagle reliever Terry McNabb (2-8) suffered the loss after pitching the final 3 2/3 innings. McNabb gave up just one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Florida A&M travels to the MEAC Tournament in Norfolk, VA this week. The Rattlers first opponent will be Coppin State on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 pm. FAMU will be the #2 seed out of the Southern Division.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com or www.nccueaglepride.com
UMES Swept By NJIT in Regular Season Finale
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team concluded its 2013-14 regular season on Saturday afternoon as the Hawks were swept in a doubleheader by the New Jersey Institute of Technology at Hawk Stadium. UMES fell 12-0 in the opener, before losing 5-2 in the nightcap.
Senior Stephen Bull registered one hit in each game to move to within six hits of the UMES all-time single-season hits record of 70. His hit in the opener was the only blemish of the day by NJIT's Ian Bentley, who fanned three to log the complete-game shutout. NJIT used just three pitchers in two games, while the Hawks trotted out five.
The opener was scoreless through one, before two runs by NJIT (18-21) gave the Highlanders the early advantage. Rex MacMillan and Teddy Bickert each had RBIs in the inning. UMES' two-run deficit held until the fourth when NJIT added another to make it 3-0.
After a scoreless fifth, the flood gates were opened as the Highlanders scored nine runs over the next two innings to run away with the victory in the opener.
Hawk starter Will Turley pitched well to open the game but was removed after four innings. He was replaced by junior Michael Epps, who allowed four runs in 1.2 innings, before giving way to freshman Philip Berry. The pitching staff combined to walk eight and plunk three in the contest.
UMES (13-33) allowed 14 hits in the opener and made three errors.
The Hawks were paced in the second game by sophomore Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.), who did not allow an earned run in the complete-game effort. The southpaw fanned one and allowed seven hits in seven innings to notch his best performance of the 2014 season. It was a huge performance as the Hawks bullpen had been exhausted after playing four games over the past two days.
After a pair of unearned runs in the second, Bone retired the side in order over the next two innings. The sophomore had a span in which he retired 15 of 18 hitters to keep UMES in the game.
NJIT scored an unearned run in the fourth to move its tally to 3-0, but UMES responded with one run in the fifth. Bull reached on an error and scored the following hitter after freshman Justin Dattilo grounded out to first.
Two more unearned runs by NJIT moved the Highlander lead to 5-1 and UMES scored one in the seventh after Dattilo notched his second RBI on the day to score Escanilla.
Freshamn Skylar Murray was 2-for-3 in the nightcap, while Dattilo had two hits and two RBI. Bull and Escanilla each scored a run and freshman Chris Adams (Brentwood, Md.) had one hit. The Hawks had eight hits in game two.
The loss is the seventh consecutive for UMES as the Hawks have now lost 10 of their last 12 contests.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Hornets close out regular season with sweep of New York Tech
DOVER, Del. --- The Delaware State University baseball team wrapped up its 2014 regular season on a high note today, sweeping a seven-inning doubleheader with New York Tech at Soldier Field.
The Hornets won the first game 8-7 on Charles Dailey’s two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning; and held on for a 10-7 victory in the nightcap.
DSU closed out the regular season with a 30-15 overall record. The Hornets won their third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division title with a 17-7 league mark this season.
In the opener, Delaware State led 6-1 before NYIT scored six unanswered runs to take the lead. The Bears opened up a 7-6 lead on a sacrifice fly by Gerson Sotolong in the top of the seventh inning.
In the DSU seventh, DJ Miller drew a one out walk and Justin Allen followed with a single to put runners at second and first. Dailey then lined a shot to the gap in left center to score Miller and Allen with the tying and winning runs.
Dailey was two-for-four with four RBI in the opener. He had a two-run single in the Hornets’ four run third inning.
Eddie Sorondo also singled in two runs in the DSU third.
Miller was two-for–three in the opener for the Hornets.
Dailey’s last inning heroics made a winner of reliever Chris Gonzalez (2-1), the Hornets’ third pitcher of the game.
In the nightcap, Delaware State led 10-0 before the Bears scored seven runs in the sixth to get back into the game.
The Hornets opened the scoring on a sacrifice fly Sorondo in the bottom of the first inning.
DSU added a run in the second on a wild pitch and four in the third to open up a 6-0 lead. Ron Farley and Hassan Evans each had run scoring doubles, while the Hornets scored on an error and wild pitch in the third.
Delaware State opened up a 10-0 lead after putting four more runs on the board in the fourth inning.
Sorondo had a two-run double and Miller singled in a run in the fourth. Miller later scored the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Sorondo was two-for-two with three RBI in game two. He had three hits and six RBI in five at bats in the doubleheader.
New York Tech had five hits and was aided by two Delaware errors in its seven-run sixth inning.
Dan Galati (1-0) was the winning pitcher in his first career start for the Hornets. He allowed one hit and struck out four in four innings.
Prior to the doubleheader the Hornets honored seniors Mike Alexander, Cameron Cecil, Hassan Evans, Matt McClain, DJ Miller, Aarron Nardone and Eddie Sorondo.
Delaware State will return to action in the 2014 MEAC Tournament in Norfolk, Va., next week. The Hornets will be one of two No. 1 tournament seeds.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Despite Battle in Extra Innings, Bethune-Cookman Drops Doubleheader to No. 6 Washington
SEATTLE - The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (22-31) took the No. 6 Washington Huskies (36-11-1) to the limit to open Saturday’s season-ending doubleheader at Husky Ballpark, extending the game to extra innings before falling 5-4 in the 11th. The Wildcats did not fare as well in the finale, falling 7-1 to close the series.
The Wildcats made the first strike of the day, as right fielder Josh Johnson logged a leadoff line drive single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third, coming home on first baseman Eric Sams’ bunt single in the first inning.
The Wildcats didn’t stop there. Facing the Washington ace pitcher, Tyler Davis, designated hitter Jordan Thomas extended the first-inning scoring with a first-pitch RBI single to outer right field, scoring Eros Modena and moving Sams to third. Sams capped the scoring on a double steal to move B-CU ahead of the Huskies, 3-0.
Starter Scott Garner went through the first frame unscathed, but was not so fortunate in the second inning, as Austin Rei led off with a double and scored on Branden Berry’s single to center field. Andrew Ely added a sacrifice fly and Erik Forgione crossed the plate on Robert Pehl’s RBI single through the right side, knotting the score at three-all.
The Huskies earned their first lead in the third, as consecutive singles and a walk loaded the bases to set up Berry for a sacrifice fly and the 4-3 advantage. B-CU reliever John Sever opened his extended outing with the sac fly, and shut down the Huskies for the remainder of regulation play in a gem of a relief appearance.
Taking advantage of Sever’s work, the Wildcats brought the score even at 4-4 as Matt Noble scored from third on a Juan Pizarro RBI single lined into right field in the sixth.
Despite putting up a career-high 10 hits and season-high four runs against Davis, who entered the game with a 1.47 ERA, the Huskies’ star limited the Wildcats to just the one run after the opening frame, yielding to Will Ballowe in the ninth.
Sever and Ballowe stood their ground in the ninth and sent the Wildcats to their eighth extra innings game of the year. Sever dealt for seven innings with just two hits and no runs allowed.
Extending in the 11th in a 4-4 tie, reliever Michael Austin got jammed in his second inning of action, allowing a leadoff walk and sending the next batter to first as a hit batter. Jack Meggs scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error, ending the game in a 5-4 loss.
Austin (0-5) takes the loss for the Wildcats, while closer Troy Rallings (5-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win.
At the plate in the first game, Sams went 3-for-5 to lead the Wildcats with one run and an RBI, while Pizarro was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Thomas added an RBI on 1-for-3 hitting.
The loss took the wind out of the B-CU sails and the Wildcats’ offense stumbled early in the second game of the doubleheader. Starter Keith Zuniga (6-4) had an uncharacteristically tough outing, taking the loss after allowing four earned runs through three and one third innings on the mound. The Huskies jumped out to a 7-0 advantage after four innings and held the margin through the sixth.
The Wildcats loaded up the bases on UW reliever Zach Wright in the seventh and Johnson put B-CU on the board with an RBI walk for the final margin of 7-1 in the game three loss.
Catcher Zach Olszewski had a strong game at the plate in game three to lead the Wildcats, hitting 3-for-3.
With the loss, the Wildcats conclude the 2014 regular season and the next game on the slate is the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championships on Wednesday (May 14).
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com