April 20, 2008

Box Score

Severn, Md. - Bethune-Cookman University continued their winning ways on Sunday as they walked away with a series sweep of Coppin State, 18-7 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Severn, Md. in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball match-up.

On the day, the Wildcats of B-CU pounded out 17 hits with their third consecutive strong performance from a starting pitcher en route to the decisive victory over the undermanned CSU Eagles. The teams narrowly escaped the rain, however, as the run-rule was a blessing for the Wildcats as heavy storms hit the area moments after the conclusion of the series in the seventh inning.

The win completed the fourth straight weekend sweep of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series for the Wildcats, who are alone in first place in the conference standings. Overall, this is the sixth consecutive conference series sweep in a row dating back to 2007, as well as the `Cats seventh straight three-game series victory this season.

The Wildcats improved to 25-15 overall, 12-0 in the MEAC while the Eagles fell to 2-42, 0-12 in conference play.

Coppin State rallied for six runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning, but it was too little too late after the Wildcats had sprinted out to a 17-1 lead after six innings.

The Wildcats scored four runs in the first, seven more in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth to put Coppin State in a 16-0 hole after four innings. Senior first baseman Osvaldo Torres and catcher Jeremy Ruperto each had four hits, while senior Mark Brooks hit his second home run of the season and finished the day with three runs batted in for Bethune-Cookman.

For Brooks, it was his first homerun out of the park as he posted an inside the park homerun against Temple at the beginning of the season.

Freshman left-hander Samuel Rodriguez left the game after going five innings on the mound, allowing only two hits and one unearned run, while walking one and striking out three to improve to 2-2 on the season.

The Eagles rally began in the seventh when Oscar Santalo walked with the bases loaded to force in the first run of the frame. Roman Batista followed with a single through the left side, scoring Patrick Regalado. Arles Rivera relieved Matthew Crane and pinch-hitter Jonathan Reynolds promptly greeted him with a double to the gap in left center, scoring Santalo and Angel Recci. Coppin State got their final run on an infield single by Archie Scott, his second hit of the game, which scored Reynolds.

B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez elected to get some work out of younger arms in the bullpen as he went with transfer Matthew Crane and junior Arles Rivera to get some work. Both players allowed six runs combined to get the Eagles back into the contest, but closed out the game with the win with the help of good defense behind Rivera.

B-CU now steps out of conference for a contest against Stetson on Tuesday, Apr. 22 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The Hatters lead the bounce series, 2-0 with the Wildcats looking towards junior pitcher Eric Thomas on the mound. Stetson will go with Will Dorsey in return.