Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score   Updated 3-game stats/scores (1-2 overall)

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Compton, California -

'CATS Wrap Up MLB Urban Classic With 13-8 Win Over Southern University On Sunday, Play At Cal-Riverside Monday then on to Texas Tech later this week to face TTU and Washington State In Lubbock

Sophomore starting pitcher Rayan Gonzalez pitched six innings for the win and Matt Wright and Emmanuel Castro hit home runs to key the 13-8 B-CU win over Southern University Sunday at the MLB Urban Invitational.

"We know Rayan has electrifying stuff and it is a matter of throwing strikes and not forcing his pitches," said B-CU Head Coach Mervyl Melendez of Gonzalez. "He got more comfortable as he got going. It's his first collegiate start and he did well."

Gonzalez (1-0) threw six innings and over 100 pitches in the victory, striking out six and walking four, allowing two earned runs vs. Southern University (1-2) who beat Cal State Northridge 12-9 on Saturday.

B-CU's offense was led by Matt Wright with a home run and five RBI and Justin Hoyte with 2-4 and 2 RBI hitting a double and a triple against the Jaguars. Ryan Durrence was 3-5 with an RBI and Emmanuel Castro ripped a home run to straight-a-way center field.

"I believe in my team and believe this is a special team and I need to have more patience with them. Winning today and putting innings together offensively like we talked about before the game - shows what kind of team we have. "

The Wildcats broke open the game scoring four runs in the third inning highlighted by Hoyte's two-run triple and B-CU scored eight more runs in the fifth.

The eight run uprising in the fifth was keyed by Wright's three-run home run, his second round-tripper of the 3-day Urban Classic to open the season. Jairo Acevedo, Hoyte, Durrence, and Jeremy Davis all had hits in the big 5th inning for the Wildcats.

Sophomore shortstop Alejandro Sanchez had a two-run single and Castro's home run in the 6th inning closed the Bethune-Cookman scoring. B-CU led 12-1 after five innings.

Pitchers Joey Sharkey and Justin Dahl pitched the final three innings for B-CU.

The Wildcats play at Cal-Riverside, Monday, 3 p.m. PST and then head to Lubbock, Texas for games vs.Texas Tech, Feb. 25, 4 p.m. CST and Feb. 27, 4 p.m.  Bethune-Cookman will also play Washington State of the Pac Ten in Lubbock, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. CST and Feb. 27, 4 p.m. "We can build on what we did today and play with confidence tomorrow at Riverside who are another tough team. We want to get to .500 with a win tomorrow (at Riverside).," said Melendez.

Junior LHP Roman Lancara will get the pitching start vs. Cal-Riverside.

LONG ROAD TRIP LEADS TO HOME OPENER AT JACKIE

B-CU's home opener is March 2, 6 p.m. vs. Stetson University at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.