Daytona Beach, Fla. (May 7, 2011) --- Delaware State was held to eight hits in a doubleheader loss to Bethune-Cookman at Jackie Robinson Park this afternoon. The Wildcats won the first game 9-0 and completed the sweep with a 3-2 seven-inning victory in the nightcap.
In the opener, BCU's Gabriel Hernandez and Jordan Dailey combined on a four-hit shutout and the Wildcats collected 11 hits, including two homers.
Hernandez (6-0) scattered four singles, while striking out five in 6.1 innings to earn the win. Dailey tossed 2.2 hitless innings in relief.
Bethune-Cookman opened the scoring when Matt Wright and Alejandro Sanchez led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back homers. The Wildcats stretched their lead to 3-0 with a run in the bottom of the third inning.
BCU wrapped up its scoring with two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth.
Starter Jordan Elliott (5-4) allowed seven hits and five runs, four earned, while striking out three in seven innings to suffer the loss for Delaware State.
In the nightcap, Bethune-Cookman opened the scoring with three runs off Delaware State starter Matt McClain in the bottom second inning. The big blow in the inning was a two-run homer by Nick Johnson.
The Hornets got back into the game with two runs in the top of the sixth. Ryan Haas and Eddie Sorondo drew walks to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Crist, Jose Portela followed with a two-run single to cut the Wildcats' lead to 3-2.
Delaware State's Scott Davis was hit by a pitch with two out in the seventh, but BCU reliever Chris Anselmo struck out Haas to end the game.
Garner (7-2) was the winning pitcher, while Anselmo pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his third save for the Wildcats.
McClain (4-7) suffered the loss, despite shutting out the Wildcats in the last four innings. He allowed five hits and three runs, two earned, while striking out three in six innings.
Delaware State fell to 23-23 overall and 11-6 in the MEAC. Bethune-Cookman, which has already clinched the MEAC regular season title, improved to 31-21 and 17-0.
The teams will wrap up the series with a single game in Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
