Bethune-Cookman’s baseball season ended May 23 in the SWAC tournament.
The top-seeded Wildcats were put on the ropes after a 6-4 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on May 20, but they were able to keep their NCAA tournament hopes with a narrow 7-6 victory against Grambling State on May 21.
But after rain in Birmingham, Alabama, delayed Bethune-Cookman’s next game a day, it encountered Arkansas-Pine Bluff again with the same result. The Golden Lions rattled off 10 unanswered runs to erased an 8-3 deficit and flip it into a 13-8 victory in the double-elimination bracket.
The Wildcats finished with a 38-20 record.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal provided live updates throughout the game. Scroll down for a play-by-play recap.
Watch B-CU baseball on SWAC TV
FINAL: Arkansas-Pine Bluff 13, Bethune-Cookman 8
Bethune-Cookman didn’t score in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, and No. 8 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff has singlehandedly eliminated the SWAC’s regular-season champions from the tournament.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff piles on runs in eighth
Bethune-Cookman ended the top of the eighth inning, but not before Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored four more runs, bringing its eighth-inning total to seven.
The Golden Lions’ Nick Hockemeyer was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, and Zyon Hamilton singled to score Weston Gingerich and Zach Wieder.
Bethune-Cookman replaced pitcher Pablo Torres with Justin Morales, but Vinny Saumell singled in Morales’ first at-bat to clear the bases, extend Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s lead to 13-8 and put the Wildcats on the ropes.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff retakes lead
Weston Gingerich singled to bring Jose Vasquez home from second base to earn the Golden Lions a 9-8 lead.
Zach Wieder also singled, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff is threatening to score more runs with Gingerich also on second. There are still zero outs.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff ties game in eighth
Vinny Saumell singled and Konner Giddley doubled before Jose Vasquez doubled to bring them both home and tie the game at 8.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff just trailed 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth, but a three-run seventh and two-run eighth have evened the score.
Pablo Torres is pitching for Bethune-Cookman for Jean Carlos Zambrano. There are still zero outs.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff rallies with three quick runs
Right when the momentum swung to Bethune-Cookman, Arkansas-Pine Bluff snatched some of it back.
The Golden Lions scored three runs quick succession with doubles from Aaron Grant and Lazaro Alvarado and a sac fly from Zach Wieder. Arkansas-Pine Bluff now only trails 8-6 in the seventh inning.
Bethune-Cookman finally went into the bullpen to replace starter Tanner Boccabello with Jean Carlos Zambrano.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff finally ends sixth inning
Arkansas-Pine Bluff caught Michael Rodriguez stealing to end the sixth inning, but the damage was already done.
Bethune-Cookman scored six runs to take an 8-3 lead. All eight of the Wildcats’ runs have been scored in the last three innings following a two-run fourth.
Bethune-Cookman’s scoring run continues
Make that six runs for Bethune-Cookman in the bottom of the sixth inning.
This time it was Andrey Martinez that cleared the bases with a single to left field. Watson, who had a two-RBI single a couple batters prior, scored from third and Darryl Lee, who reach first on an error and stole second, scored with ease.
Martinez then stole second, and Michael Rodriguez singled to bring him home. Bethune-Cookman leads 8-3.
Bethune-Cookman takes first lead
Christopher Watson hit a base-clearing single through the middle gap to give Bethune-Cookman a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jose Fernandez scored from third, and Jeter Polledo followed from second base.
Bethune-Cookman’s Jeter Polledo ties game
Jeter Polledo doubled to deep center field to score Maikol Lucena, who was hit by a pitch, from second and tie Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jose Fernandez advanced to third base after he was walked by reliever Emerson Lott’s replacement, Nate Lee, earlier in the frame. After Polledo’s double, Lee was replaced on the mound by Brendan Hamlin.
The Wildcats have runners on second and third with one out.
B-CU and UAPB scoreless in fifth
The fifth inning didn’t have any additional runs or scoring threats from either team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff still leads 3-2.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff narrowly holds on to lead
Arkansas-Pine Bluff pitcher Emerson Lott subbed in for starting pitcher Ryland Morin with the bases loaded, two outs and a one-run lead.
Lott forced a pop fly to center field from Bethune-Cookman’s Sergio Rivera to end the inning and preserve the Golden Lions’ 3-2 lead entering the fifth inning.
Bethune-Cookman scores first runs of the game
Erick Almonte, who hit a grand slam to lead Bethune-Cookman past Grambling State, singled to right center field to plate the Wildcats’ first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth inning. Michael Rodriguez scored it after he was hit by a pitch earlier in the frame.
Jeter Polledo then singled to score Jose Fernandez, who singled up the middle, from third to cut Bethune-Cookman’s deficit to 3-2.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff extends lead in fourth inning
Nick Hockemeyer singled to begin the top of the fourth inning, and Zyon Hamilton doubled down the left-field line to score Hockemeyer from first.
Vinny Saumell singled down the third-base line, and Konner Giddley bunted to score Hamilton from third to extend Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s lead to 3-0.
Bethune-Cookman retired the rest of the side, but it has some work to do entering the bottom of the fourth.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff still leads after third inning
Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas-Pine Bluff held each other to three outs in three batters to end the third inning.
A third of the way through the Wildcats’ and Golden Lions’ rematch, Arkansas-Pine Bluff leads 1-0 with Nick Hockemeyer’s RBI walk as the only score.
Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas-Pine Bluff held scoreless in second
Jose Fernandez singled for Bethune-Cookman, and Jose Vasquez reached first on an infield hit for Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the second inning.
Both runners were left stranded at first base, and the Golden Lions held their 1-0 lead heading into the third inning.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff leads after one inning
Andrey Martinez and Michael Rodriguez singled for Bethune-Cookman, but the Wildcats were held scoreless after Martinez, initially ruled safe, was ruled out sliding into third base after a challenge from the Golden Lions.
Maikol Lucena grounded out to end the inning, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff again leads Bethune-Cookman early with a slight 1-0 advantage.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff scores early, loads the bases
Tanner Boccabello walked Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Nick Hockemeyer with the bases loaded to earn the Golden Lions a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
With only one out and the bases loaded again, Bethune-Cookman got out of the inning a run down with a double play.
Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff time today
What channel is the Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff game on today?
Bethune-Cookman’s next conference tournament contest will air live on SWAC TV.
Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff baseball history
Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff predictions
Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal — Bethune-Cookman will advance. It’s not a knock on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who have already shown it has what it takes to beat the Wildcats, but more of a testament to the season B-CU has had. Bethune-Cookman didn’t lose a conference series all season, which included a series triumph over the Golden Lions to begin May. And there’s some confidence to be had considering the Wildcats are ninth in the NCAA in runs and own road victories over ranked LSU and Florida squads.
SWAC Tournament weather update
After rain delays caused a scheduling backup, Bethune-Cookman’s contest against Arkansas-Pine Bluff was delayed until 10 a.m. Eastern on May 23 after originally being schedule for 1 p.m. the day prior. Because of this, the Wildcats will play a doubleheader if they win, with their first game against Alabama State in the next round set for 4 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff score, highlights from SWAC baseball game
Reporting by Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
