The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats continued their impressive run this season with yet another win on over a top ranked opponent,  in this case the Florida Gators, with a 13-7 victory at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville.

The victory April 14  marks the Wildcats’ second consecutive win over a ranked team, something the program had not achieved since 2009. The Gators were ranked #7 in the conference and # 20 nationally.

The Wildcats wasted no time getting on the board, as Andrey Martinez opened the game with a solo home run in the first inning. Although Florida quickly responded to tie the game, B-CU capitalized on early pitching struggles in the second inning. Darryl Lee and Martinez delivered key RBI hits to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

B-CU continued to apply pressure throughout the game. Jose Fernandez added another home run in the fourth, while Jeter Polledo extended the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.  Despite a Florida rallying to tie the game in the sixth inning, the Wildcats responded in dominant fashion.

The turning point came in the seventh inning when B-CU exploded for seven runs. Big plays from Jorge Rodriguez, Darryl Lee, and Andrey Martinez helped break the game open, taking advantage of defensive errors and timely hitting. The offensive surge gave the Wildcats a comfortable lead they would not give up. On the defensive side, Justin Morales closed out the game strong in the ninth inning, shutting down Florida’s offense to secure the win.

With back-to-back victories over ranked opponents, Bethune Cookman is proving it can compete at a high level and continues to build momentum as the season progresses.