Congratulations to Coach Jason Beverlin and the Fighting Wildcats baseball team for capturing their 7th consecutive MEAC men’s baseball title on Sunday afternoon by defeating Delaware State 8-3 at Marty Miller Field (Norfolk, VA).
BCU needed the second game of the championship round to secure its 13th title in 14 years. Earlier Sunday morning, Delaware State defeated the Cats 3-2 forcing a “winner take all” final. Sunday morning’s loss was BCU’s first tournament defeat since 2007.
But any notions of a hangover were quickly erased in the first inning of Game 2 against the Hornets when outfielder David Lee singled home Josh Johnson giving the Cats a 1-0 lead after the first frame. Despite having only 1 ball leave the infield in the 3rd, the Hornets capitalized on 2 bunts, a walk, a hit batsman, and a throwing error to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the third.
Nick Johnson lead off the bottom of the 3rd for the Cats and was hit by a pitch. Brandon Turner’s single to center field chased DSU’s starting pitcher, Jordan Elliot, and a double steal by Johnson and Turner set up runners in scoring position for BCU. David Lee’s 2 RBI single to right field scored Johnson and Turner and tied the game at 3-3.
Lee added another RBI single in the 4th this time scoring Carlos Delgado and putting BCU ahead 4-3. The Cats added 4 more runs in the 5th to pad their lead 8-3. Relief pitchers Bryan Rivera and Jordan Dailey held DSU both hitless and scoreless through the final 6 and 2/3rds securing the win for the good guys.
David Lee finish the contest with 4 RBIs and was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Player honors. BCU will find out their NCAA Regionals destination on Monday, May 23rd when the pairings are announced.
