MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – For the second consecutive night, the Barry Buccaneers slugged their way to a 20-8 victory over the Yellow Jackets of American International in a lopsided win at Feinbloom field Wednesday night.
Barry (16-6) trailed 1-0 after the top of the first, but J.C. Cardenas belted a two-run homer over the right field wall in a four run rally to answer in the bottom of the first, and the Buccaneers never looked back.
With a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third, Barry scored six runs on five hits including Sheehan Planas-Arteaga’s two-run homer to break open a 10-2 lead.
The Buccaneers added three more runs in the sixth and held a comfortable 13-3 lead, but the Yellow Jackets (4-3) pushed across five runs in the top of eighth to cut the deficit to 13-8.
Still, the Buccaneers did not budge and Carlos Matamoros answered in the bottom of the frame with a grand slam highlighting a seven-run eighth to extend the lead once again.
With plenty of offense to work with, Buccaneers’ starter Blaine Duncan (2-0) tossed five innings and allowed three runs to pick up his second win of the season.
Luis Deville, Calvin Rayburn and Tyler Petsch each pitched an inning in relief without allowing an earned run.
Offensively the Bucs shared the load from top to bottom. Matamoros led the way with a career-high four-hit, seven RBI night. One of Matamoros’ earlier hits in the ball game appeared to have bounced off the top of the fence and back in play as he pulled into third base safely. After conferring with coach Marc Pavao, the umpires, controversially, decided to bring Matamoros back with a ground-rule double and ultimately the decision kept him from hitting for the cycle.
Every starter in the lineup collected at least one hit while Khalil Denson, Cardenas and Planas-Arteaga each added two hits on the night. Planas-Arteaga also belted his fourth homer of the season and Adrian English added his second long-ball of the year with a blast to right.
Barry returns to action on Friday when they host Sunshine State Conference rival Nova Southeastern in the first of a three-game slate at Feinbloom field.
Live-stats and video broadcast will be available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.