Bethune-Cookman edged by South Florida
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman pitching staff allowed just five hits Wednesday night, but the offense was unable to deliver runs, as the Wildcats suffered a 1-0 setback to the University of South Florida at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Bethune-Cookman (3-15) starting pitcher Donte Lindsay matched USF starter Ryan Valdes tic for tack in a true pitcher’s duel between the two.
USF (10-6-1) was able to get the game’s only score in the top-half of the fifth inning.
Catcher Levi Borders was hit by a pitch to open the USF at-bat, followed by an infield single from Putnam that rocketed off Lindsay’s shoe. In fact, both hits allowed by Lindsay on the night ricocheted off his left shin and right foot for infield singles.
Clint Clymer took the hill for B-CU in relief of Lindsay with two men aboard in the fifth, immediately getting Daniel Portales to strike out on a fouled bunt attempt with a two-strike count. Clymer then got Zac Gilcrease to ground into a fielder’s choice, but a throwing error charged to shortstop Demetrius Sims trying to turn the inning-ending double play went wide of first baseman Brandon Wilkes on the throw to first, allowing Borders to score from second on the play.
The Wildcats had chances to knot the game or take the lead in the sixth and seventh inning, respectively.
The Cats put a pair of runners on with one out in the sixth, forcing USF head coach Mark Kingston to pull Valdes in favor of reliever Jordan Strittmatter, who immediately loaded up the bases by hitting Wilkes with a pitch. However, he quickly settled down to force a fielder’s choice groundout from Sims in the next at-bat.
In the seventh, the Cats loaded the bases on USF relief pitcher Michael Farley, who walked B-CU third baseman Mijon Cummings – after Strittmatter walked Jameel Edney and Nathan Bond in back-to-back at-bats with two outs, bringing Farley to the mound out of the bullpen. However, Bethune-Cookman could not drive a run across as Farley induced a fly out to right from Clay Middleton to end the threat.
USF’s Valdes picked up the win, evening his record for the year at 1-1. The loss went to Lindsay (0-1) who recorded his first decision of the campaign in the first collegiate start for the Cleveland native.
Five Wildcats registered hits on the night, including Bond who finished 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, as well as Cummings who also ended the night 1-for-3 with a walk.
The B-CU bullpen was almost untouchable as Clymer and Michael Austin combined to scatter just three hits and strikeout four in five innings of action. Lindsay ended the night with four innings worked, allowing the single unearned run on two hits and a walk.
Wednesday’s loss ends a 14-game homestand for the Wildcats, who now play six of their next eight away from Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Bethune-Cookman returns to action this weekend, traveling to Greensboro, North Carolina. Once there, the Wildcats will meet the North Carolina A&T Aggies at War Memorial Stadium in a three-game conference series, beginning Saturday, March 14, with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
N.C. Central rallies to down Charleston Southern in extra innings
CHARLESTON, S.C. – North Carolina Central University rallied from a four-run deficit courtesy of a game-tying three-run home run by Conrad Kovalcik in the seventh inning and a two-out, two-run single by Cory Williamson in the 10th to beat Charleston Southern 12-10 in extra innings on Wednesday.
NCCU (6-8) posted four runs in the top of the fourth for a 6-3 advantage. Charleston Southern (8-6) answered in the bottom of the frame by exploding for seven runs to take a 10-6 lead.
Troy Marrow drove in his third run of the game for the Eagles in the sixth, followed by Kovalcik’s game-tying blast in the seventh. After leaving the bases loaded in the ninth, Williamson singled to centerfield with two outs in the 10th to score Ronald Thompson, who opened the inning with a single, and Kovalcik, who walked.
While the Eagles were scoring, their bullpen was slamming the door on the Buccaneers. Jonathan Figueroa, Kyle Shields and Andrew Vernon combined for 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits. Vernon tossed the final three innings with four strikeouts to earn the win, his second of the year.
Williamson, Kovalcik and Marrow all had three RBI apiece as NCCU pounded out a season-high 14 hits against a team that has victories over La Salle, North Florida, S.C. Upstate and a weekend series win over Penn State.
On Tuesday, NCCU also used 10 innings to knock off Gardner-Webb, 3-2. Williamson also drove in the game-winning run against the Bulldogs. Both teams are members of the Big South Conference.
NCCU stays on the road this weekend at conference foe Savannah State with a doubleheader on Saturday (1/4 p.m.) and the finale on Sunday (1 p.m.).
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com