Hot start fuels Rattlers to win over Troy
TROY, Ala. – Florida A&M (20-23, 15-9 MEAC) scored all six of its’ runs on six hits in the first inning to shutout Troy (26-23, 14-10 Sun Belt) 6-0 on Wednesday at Riddle-Pace Field.
It was only the second time the Trojans had been shutout at home all season. FAMU starter Ricky Page (1-0) pitched a gem for his first win of the season as he worked five scoreless innings and scattered three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Page faced just two batters over the minimum in the win.
FAMU out-hit Troy 8-5 as Logan Seymour led the Rattlers going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Troy starter Corey Childress (3-5) gave up all six runs (four earned) on six hits in the first inning, while only recording two outs. Childress faced 10 batters and threw 24 pitches in the top of the first inning.
The FAMU bullpen held Troy to just two hits over the final four innings with a combined four strikeouts and two walks.
Florida A&M will be off until next week’s MEAC Baseball Tournament in Salisbury, Md.
For complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com
Maryland Eastern Shores falls to UMBC
BALTIMORE, Md. – UMES managed just two hits off of a red hot UMBC team as the Retrievers managed to hold the Hawks in check in a 5-0 shutout at Alumni Field in Baltimore Wednesday. The Hawks managed to close out the regular season with a 16-31 record, the best for the team since 2006.
Freshmen Scott Bean and Chris Melrath relieved Jordan Bone after the starter finished four innings. Both kept the Retrievers in line, scattering three hits and two walks over four innings to go along with two strikeouts.
However, the home starter, Kevin Ladner, was masterful as he gave up just one hit and two walks in seven innings. Mark Esposito finished the job with two innings of scoreless ball.
Sophomore Justin Dattilo and junior Connor Breslin collected the pair of base hits for the Hawks, both singles.
UMBC was able to extend their win streak to nine games with the victory. This includes an 8-0 win over UMES in a game at Hawk Stadium on April 29th.
The Hawks will now focus their attention to the MEAC tournament, taking place at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury next week. UMES will either face North Carolina Central or Savannah State in a Wednesday matchup beginning at 12:30.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Eagles drop Senior Day tilt with Campbell
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University bashed its way into the lea d in the first inning with a pair of homers, but Campbell University struck back with a six-run inning in the second and held the lead from there to defeat the Eagles 11-8 on Wednesday, May 6 at the Durham Athletic Park.
NCCU (19-29) opened the evening with a recognition of its seniors, and head coach Jim Koerner gave Troy Marrow the ability to collect his final start after being sidelined with an injury, before being replaced before the first pitch.
The Eagles put the first run on the board as Mitchell McCrary crushed a leadoff homer down the right field line, and Christian Triplett followed suit with a two-run rocket that cleared the street behind the left field wall that put NCCU in front 3-0 after the first frame.
Campbell (28-20) came right back in the top of the second, with a six run inning capped by a grand slam from Cedric Mullins to move ahead of NCCU, 6-3. Mullins collected his second home run of the evening with a solo shot in the fifth inning that stretched the game to 7-3 in favor of Campbell.
The Camels put together a three run inning in the top of the sixth that seemed to put the game out of reach, but the Eagles rallied for three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning with RBIs from Eric Kimber, McCrary and Carlos Ortiz to make the score 11-7 through six complete innings.
NCCU drew within striking distance once again in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single from Triplett to push the score to 11-8, but that was the final run for the Eagles.
NCCU now prepares for a showdown with North Carolina A&T on Saturday, May 9 at the Durham Athletic Park with a trip to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Baseball Championships on the line.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Bethune-Cookman upended at No. 12 Miami
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman was limited to just three hits on Wednesday night, as the 12th-ranked Miami Hurricanes took down the Wildcats by a score of 14-0 in non-conference baseball action inside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Bethune-Cookman (16-38) was unable to solve Miami starting pitcher Derek Beauprez. The sophomore right-hander worked five scoreless innings for the Hurricanes, not allowing a hit and striking out six batters against just a single walk.
Miami (35-13) scored all of its runs by scoring in each of the first six innings.
With Bethune-Cookman held without a hit through the first 6.2 innings, senior right fielder Jordan Robinson broke up the combined no-hitter with a double down the left field line. Catcher Zach Olszewski followed with the second of three hits for the Wildcats, singling back up the middle against Miami reliever Sam Abrams.
The only other hit for the Maroon and Gold came off the bat of Demetrius Sims in the eighth inning. For the Ann Arbor, Michigan native, the hit pushed his hitting streak to a season-best seven games. In fact, he has now reached base in the last 13 games, consecutively.
The win was recorded by Miami’s Beauprez, evening his record at 2-2 on the campaign. The loss went to B-CU starter Michael Austin, dropping his record at 3-3. Austin worked just 2.2 innings, giving up six runs on five hits and six walks.
Ivan Coutinho and German Hernandez each worked the seventh and eighth, respectively, out of the bullpen, with neither surrendering a hit for the Wildcats.
Bethune-Cookman will have just over a week off before taking part in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships in Salisbury, Maryland.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com