March 6, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville mounted a seven-run rally in the ninth but it wasn't enough as Bethune-Cookman held off the baseball Cougars 10-8 Sunday.

Jordan Dailey earned the save as he came out of the Bethune-Cookman bullpen with two outs and the bases loaded and struck out SIUE's Chase Green for the final out.

"I guess we just needed one more pitch, one more out, or one more inning," lamented SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins.

SIUE fell to 1-10 overall and now has one game left on its road trip. The Cougars will play Seton Hall Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. ET in a neutral site game against the Pirates.

SIUE starter Ryan Daniels took the loss as he gave up three runs over five innings. Bethune-Cookman continued to add to its lead by scoring in every inning except the second and third.

"Ryan Daniels threw well. He had good stuff," Collins said.

The Cougars scored their first run in the sixth when Devin Caldwell doubled home James Vazquez, who singled with one out.

Scott Garner was the winning pitcher for Bethune-Cookman, now 7-6. He scattered seven hits over eight innings of work. The only run he would allow would be the SIUE's tally in the sixth.

Down 10-1 in the top of the ninth, the Cougars quickly gained steam on Bethune-Cookman's bullpen of Julio Morales and Joseph Munoz.

Matt Highland opened the inning with a singled down the right field line. After a fielder's choice, Travis Becherer put runners at the corners with a single. The Cougars would get back-to-back walks from Chase Green and James Vazquez, the second of which would add a run to SIUE's total.

SIUE cut the lead to 10-6 on a two-RBI single by Devin Caldwell and a two-run double by Zach Hawkins. After Thad Hawkins walked, Highland came up for the second go-around for the Cougars and singled home Zach Hawkins. Brett Keeler would follow with another RBI single. The Cougars loaded the bases before Green suffered the final out.

Collins felt good about SIUE's late comeback.

"They kept playing in the ninth. They didn't quit," he said.

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