What a difference a year makes
In Jason Beverlin’s first year as skipper of Bethune-Cookman’s baseball team, the Wildcats looked overmatched when squaring off against Top 25 programs. Such was not the case this past weekend when the Wildcats faced off against the 16th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona.
Junior Righthander Montana Durapau gave the Wildcats a strong outing in Friday’s Opening Night contest. Durapau yielded just three earned runs while striking out five in seven innings of work. The Cats were 1 out away from winning Game One (and the series) but surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th that forced the contest into extra innings.
The Sun Devils eventually prevailed 5-4 in the 11th inning.
The second game of the series saw the Wildcat bats heat up early but simmer down late. ASU pulled away for a comfortable 15-7 win in Game 2.
BCU (1-2) secured its first win of the 2013 campaign in the weekend cap upsetting the Sun Devils 7-6. 2011 MEAC Pitcher of the Year, Scott Garner (1-0) earned the victory going 6 1/3rd, striking out six Sun Devils batters, walking one, while allowing five earned runs.
Senior closer Jordan Dailey entered the contest with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th. Dailey held ASU scoreless over the final 2.1 innings preserving the victory and earning his first save of the year in the process.
The Biocic brother’s Chris and P.J. scored a pair of runs each in the victory.
Sunday’s win was the Wildcats’ first victory over a Top 25 program since defeating Auburn in 2011.
Beverlin’s squad will look to carry the momentum of Sunday’s victory into Tuesday’s home-opener against the University of North Florida at Jackie Robinson ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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