Pizarro Pitches Bethune-Cookman past North Florida
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Juan Pizarro allowed just one hit in his third start of the year, while Michael Cruz registered two home runs as Bethune-Cookman took down North Florida, 4-1 on Tuesday evening inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Redshirt senior right-hander Juan Pizarro made his second consecutive start against the visiting North Florida Ospreys (13-10) on Tuesday evening, but the result was far different than the previous outing. After dropping his first decision of the year a week ago at home against the Ospreys, Pizarro was nearly untouchable against the visitors from Jacksonville, Florida this time around.
Pizarro was the driving force for B-CU on the mound, logging his first quality start of the year with 6.2 innings worked, allowing just the single hit in the first inning and striking out two batters against three walks. Sophomore Joseph Calamita worked an inning in relief of Pizarro, allowing just the one unearned run on a pair of hits.
And it was Clint Clymer working the final 1.1 innings, giving up a hit and striking out one Osprey to earn his first save of the campaign.
With the win, Pizarro evened his record at 1-1 for the year, while UNF’s German took the loss to keep him winless at 0-3 on the spin. German tossed 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits, while managing four strikeouts and four walks.
The Wildcats offense was paced by Michael Cruz with a 2-for-3 effort, adding three RBI and two runs scored with his two home runs. For Cruz, it was his second multi-home run game in the last four days, as he plated a pair of homers in the series-opening win at North Carolina Central on Saturday in Durham, North Carolina.
Behind Cruz was Rakeem Quinn with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, also scoring twice. Demetrius Sims added the other hit with B-CU totaling five hits altogether in the game.
Bethune-Cookman continues its midweek slate Wednesday, March 23, as the Wildcats travel south to face the No. 5 Miami Hurricanes inside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the game being broadcast live on ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app on all mobile devices.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Campbell Wins Home Run Derby with NCCU
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University junior Conrad Kovalcik cranked two home runs including a ninth inning grand slam, but the Eagles fell to Campbell University 15-11 at the Durham Athletic Park on Tuesday, March 22.
NCCU (10-12) was able to take an early 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to runs driven in by Trevor Theissen and Ellington Hopkins, however Campbell (12-10) knotted the game in the top of the fourth after Brian Taylor stole third and came all the way around to score from second on a wild pitch.
Kovalcik broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth with his first homer of the day, a solo dinger that cleared the roof of the warehouse down the right field line. The Camels took that home run as a declaration of a challenge as they responded with back-to-back blasts in the fifth inning.
The first of those was a grand slam from Taylor, then Matt Parrish knocked one over the wall, and both pitches were sent to centerfield. Campbell racked up five runs in that inning, and took a 7-3 lead going to the sixth frame.
Theissen picked up his second RBI of the day on a double in the sixth inning to help bring the Eagles closer, and he finished the day 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
The Camels found the combination for another five-run inning in the seventh, sparked by a two-run homer from Jimmy Monaghan and Campbell took a commanding 12-4 advantage to the seventh inning stretch.
NCCU refused to go away quietly, as Carlos Ortiz rapped a two-RBI double to left field to keep the Eagles in the conversation. Campbell scored three more runs before the bottom of the ninth and took a 15-6 lead with the final three outs looming for the Eagles.
The Eagles started the inning with the first three batters reaching base, and then Kovalick unleashed a titanic grand slam that just stayed fair down the right field line to draw NCCU within five at 15-10. Theissen followed Kovalcik with a single and was brought in on an RBI single from Hopkins to make the score 15-11 with runners on the corners and two outs. However, the Eagles’ comeback bid came one batter short of getting the tying run to the plate.
NCCU returns to Southern Division action on Friday with a doubleheader against Savannah State, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com