Bethune-Cookman University’s baseball team continued its hot streak, sweeping Southern in a doubleheader with decisive wins of 6-3 and 12-7 at Wesley Burrows Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 3.

In Game 1the Wildcats (22-10, 10-2) struck first, taking advantage of a Southern miscue to grab a 1-0 lead. B-CU extended the lead in the third inning when Andrey Martinez hit his third home run of the season and the Wildcats added another run on a bases-loaded walk.

Christopher Watson launched his first homer of the season in the fourth to make it 4-0, and Jose Fernandez added a two-RBI single in the fifth for a 5-0 advantage.

The Southern Jaguars finally answered in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single from Beny Bikar Jr., but the Wildcats held strong despite an eighth-inning push from the Jaguars, who scored twice. Justin Morales closed out a scoreless ninth, and Edwin Sanchez earned his sixth win of the season, allowing just one run over seven innings.

Game 2 was a similar sight as the Wildcats wasted no time in the nightcap, scoring six runs in the first three innings. Erick Almonte delivered a sacrifice fly in the first, followed by a second-inning run after Sergio Rivera stole third and scored on a catcher’s error.

B-CU broke the game open in the third with RBI doubles from Jeter Polledo and Christopher Watson and another sacrifice fly from Almonte, putting the team up 6-0.

Southern managed to get on the board in the fourth, but the Wildcats kept the pressure on, adding three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to secure the 12-7 victory. Southern scored late, but B-CU’s early offensive explosion proved insurmountable.

With the sweep, the Wildcats maintain their strong position in conference play, continuing their push for another dominant season. The team is slated to play Louisiana State University  on April 7.

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