DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Alabama A&M (13-33, 9-18 SWAC) could not withstand an offensive barrage by Bethune-Cookman (23-28, 17-9 SWAC) and dropped a 12-1 decision in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Sunday, May 15.
The Wildcats would get on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Malik Stephens homered to left field before Irvin Escobar singled to the pitcher and allowed Mathew Garcia to score for a 2-0 advantage.
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fourth inning as B-CU would then capitalize as Stephens doubled to left center and brought home Franki Febles, Boris Pena and Jeremy Garcia for a 5-0 lead.
The Bulldogs would finally respond in the top of the fifth inning as junior third baseman
Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.) hit a home run to left field to close the deficit to 5-1. The Wildcats would then answer in the bottom of the inning as Garcia was hit by pitch and allowed Escobar to come home before Manny Souffrain scored on a wild pitch.
B-CU would then answer in the bottom of the inning with five runs off three hits that included Stephens doubling to left center and allowed Colton Olasin, Garcia and Pena to score and push the advantage to 10-1.
Pitching would then rule as neither team affected the score until the Wildcats responded in the eighth inning with Pena signaling through the left side and brought home Garcia and Christopher Patterson to close out the 12-1 decision.
Stephens led the Wildcats with a 3-of-4 day, seven RBIs, a home run and a scored run while Pena was 1-of-3 with two RBIs and a pair of scored runs and Garcia was 1-of-2 with an RBI and two runs to round out the top performers. Hector Vazquez started and threw six innings, striking out nine and only allowed one earned run to move to 6-4.
Tribett led the Bulldogs with a 1-of-3 day, an RBI, one home run and a scored run. Graduate pitcher
Noah Whitted (Beaumont, Texas) threw 3.2 innings allowing two earned runs and striking out two to fall to 2-4.
AAMU will return to the field from May 19-21 as they take on Alabama State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday at James Clemens High School located at 11306 County Line Road, Madison, Alabama.
