DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ^__ Alabama A&M mounted a comeback in the contest, but Bethune-Cookman came out the gates with eight runs in the first to gain control of the game early on to hold off the efforts from the Bulldogs with a 14-9 final.

The Wildcat bats were hot early on with a pair of runs within the first four batters. After a triple to leadoff the game and the next batter hit by a pitch, Boris Pena drove in the first score with an RBI single, followed by an RBI double on the next at-bat.
 
Not long after, Bethune-Cookman added another run, this time off a fielding error, followed by a sacrifice fly, bases loaded walk, later bases loaded double to clear the bases.
 
Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the first, Tommy Easley got Alabama A&M on the board with a groundout to third to bring home leadoff hitter Chandler Stocking, who had walked to start the frame.
 
After another score from the Wildcats in the second, the Bulldogs made a push in the bottom half of the inning, adding five runs. Christian Soto got things going with a one-out single to right field and stole second base to get in scoring position. Following a walk from Brandon Edwards, Kenny Glover and Stocking pounded out consecutive RBI singles to make it 9-3, before Glover scored later on an error. Blake Martin added the final two runs of the inning with a two-out double left to score Easley and Chevalier Dorris to cut the deficit to 9-6 after two.

Bethune-Cookman recovered and added three more runs in the fifth, with four hits in the frame, followed by two in the seventh, the first on a wild pitch, while the last was off a sacrifice fly to left field.

Meanwhile, Stocking hit a two-run homer to deep center to cut into the deficit, before a solo homer from Martin in the ninth before the close of the game, making the final 14-9.

A&M used four pitchers who combined for nine strikeouts and eight walks. Starter Noah Whitted (2-5) worked just one inning and allowed eight total runs but just two earned in the loss. Dimitri Stamataplous, Evan Crenshaw, and Jason Garcia all came in out of the bullpen to finish the game.
 
Soto and Stocking led the team from the plate with two hits and two runs each, while Marin finished 2-for-4 and drove in three runs.

The Bulldogs (12-29, 3-20) will stay on the road for their next game for a midweek matchup against UT Martin Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Skyhawk Baseball Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with live stats also available.

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