SANFORD, Fla. -  A five-run eighth inning pushed Texas Southern past Bethune-Cookman in the series opener of the final regular season series of the season, 5-2, Thursday night at Sanford Memorial Stadium.

Barring a Florida A&M loss to Alcorn State on the road this weekend, the Wildcats must win the remaining two games of the series in order to clinch an outright Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)  regular season championship for the first time in program history. 



Bethune-Cookman (31-21, 21-4 SWAC) and Texas Southern (22-28, 15-13 SWAC) found themselves locked in a pitchers' duel for the first four innings.

Texas Southern's best early chance came in the first as a walk, sacrifice bunt, and single to center put runners on the corners with one out, but starter Edwin Sanchez worked out of the jam with a double play. 

The only early offense for B-CU came in the third as Jorge Rodriguez singled with two outs. Jose Fernandez singled to center one batter later, but Rodriguez was tagged out attempting to take two bases on the play. 

B-CU finally broke the stalemate in the fifth as Jeter Polledo led off the inning with with a solo shot to dead center field. after two quick outs Andrey Martinez matched with a homer to left, his SWAC-leading 17th of the year, as the Cats went up, 2-0. 

The Wildcats turned to the bullpen to start the eighth as Sanchez departed for Yoansell Diaz. The Tigers immediately took advantage with a leadoff single and an inside-the-park homer that tied things at 2-2. With two outs, a double and RBI single gave the Tigers their first lead at 3-2., and a two-run homer capped off the five-run inning. 

The Wildcats put two runners on in the ninth, but a double play ended the night for the Cats. 

Edwin Sanchez took a no-decision after seven scoreless innings in which he allowed six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Yoansell Diaz took his fourth loss of the season after allowing all five runs on five hits with a strikeout.

Robert Lastra struck out the side in a scoreless ninth.