April 14, 2012
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
Reach Baseball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details by E-Mail
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Wildcats (22-14, 11-3 MEAC) got off to a good start; scratch that, an outstanding start to Senior Weekend in the Saturday's opening of the rematch series with Florida A&M (6-34, 4-10 MEAC) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Sophomore designated hitter Anthony Stokes' two two-run homers highlighted a day ending in an 18-1 effort in favor of Bethune-Cookman.
“I think the biggest thing is that we had a much better approach swinging the bats,” said Head Coach Jason Beverlin. “I think we're a little different team, offensively, than we were the first time we played them.”
In early March, the teams faced off on MEAC opening weekend, with the Rattlers pulling out two final-inning victories to win the series and snap B-CU's 46-game conference win streak. Without a doubt, this series played out on the other end of the spectrum.
Working behind the exemplary presence on the mound of starter Rayan Gonzalez (5-0) in game one, who opened the game with two straight strikeouts (of six) en route to his third complete game of the year and third shutout, the Wildcat defense was on lock-down, limiting the Rattlers to just two hits.
“That was the same that we've seen out of Rayan all year,” Beverlin said. “He's done an excellent job, really setting the tone. He had really good stuff, he attacked the strike zone, and they were aggressive swinging, so he had some short innings.”
Meanwhile, offensively the Wildcats got to work early and put up runs in four of the game's eight innings to defeat FAMU 10-0.
Senior shortstop Brashad Johnson got the Wildcats started in the opening frame, placing an RBI double to the outside shade of right field.
Though the 'Cats were held up in the second, they came back in a big way in the third, Josh Johnson led off with a single up the middle right back at the pitcher, reaching third on a Brandon Turner double, and quickly finding the plate on a David Lee single, which also sent Turner home, as Lee created and beat a FAMU rundown. Facing a 2-2 count, Alejandro Sanchez gave the Wildcats some cushion with an RBI single to right center.
The MEAC leader in home runs, Stokes collected his first of two jacks in the fifth inning of game one, batting in B. Johnson with the long ball to center. Just two batters later, Nick Johnson tacked on another with a solo homer to left field. Facing a new pitcher in a bases loaded situation, Lee extended the lead to eight, as the Wildcats capitalized on FAMU miscues.
Stokes and N. Johnson finished off the Rattlers in the eighth with a sacrifice fly and left field RBI single respectively, as the game wrapped in a 10-0 Bethune-Cookman victory.
Though Stokes' home run and three RBI stole the show, Josh Johnson highlighted the stats sheet with a career-best 4-5 hitting in game one of the series.
“He was aggressive and he's really doing a good job of getting the barrel to the ball,” Beverlin said of Johnson, “setting the table for the other guys to knock him in and be a real catalyst for our offense.”
Bethune-Cookman carried the momentum into game two in a big way, set off by back-to-back hits from Lee and Turner, putting two into to scoring position early in the first inning. B-CU took advantage of the situation, as both scored on a double-error play. B-CU shot out in front as two more runs crossed in the first, batted in by Sanchez and N. Johnson.
B-CU scored in consecutive innings in the third and fourth, with runs batted in by Jordan Taylor and N. Johnson, then capped off by the second two-run shot by Stokes, this time to left center.
The Rattlers spoiled the day's shutout in the sixth, capitalizing on a jam for a sacrifice fly by center fielder Jared Walker, but the as the final out was logged, B-CU wrapped the game with an 8-1 win, taking a 2-0 lead in the home series.
Opening up on the mound, on a controlled start for his second outing since coming off Tommy John rehab, Ali Simpson (1-0) collected the win, picking up three strikeouts before giving way to Jairo Acevedo. Jairo tacked up three K's of his own in four innings, and Juan Pizarro closed out the final frame.
Stokes went big in game two, leading the Wildcats with a 3-3 performance, scoring three runs with two RBI. On the day, Stokes' numbers showed up big; 4-7, four runs scored, and five RBI…a 1.429 slugging percentage.
“He's extremely strong, and when he's seeing the ball well, he has the ability to do that any given game,” Beverlin noted of Stokes.
Lee went 5-8, scoring five runs and batting in two runs. J. Johnson was 5-9 with an RBI and run scored, and N. Johnson was 4-9 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Wildcats are looking to take care of business with their cross-state rival on Sunday, returning to Jackie Robinson Ballpark seeking their eighth series win and fourth sweep of the season; on Senior Day. With 15 of the final 17 regular season games on the road, B-CU will take time Sunday to honor the accomplishments of five seniors: Alejandro Sanchez, Rayan Gonzalez, Jairo Acevedo, Brashad Johnson, and Nick Johnson. The recognition ceremony will take place before Sunday's finale, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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