DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats erupted for five runs in a chaotic first inning and never looked back, cruising to a 14-7 victory over the Delaware State Hornets in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

The game, played at a sun-drenched ballpark, was effectively decided in its opening frames. Delaware State starter M. Lane recorded only one out before being chased, as the Wildcats sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. The inning featured three hits, two walks, a hit batter, two wild pitches, and a pivotal two-run single by shortstop Jeter Polledo. Jose Fernandez and J. Chicano added RBI, with another run scoring on a wild pitch to stake Bethune-Cookman to a 5-0 lead before many fans had settled into their seats.

The Wildcats continued their offensive onslaught in the second inning, adding three more runs on an RBI single from M. Lucena, a run-scoring groundout from Fernandez, and another wild pitch that allowed a run to score, extending their advantage to 8-0.

Delaware State, still searching for its first win of the season, showed resilience by chipping away at the large deficit. The Hornets plated an unearned run in the third on a sacrifice fly by H. Turner. They added another in the fourth when A. Rodriguez grounded out to score C. Boyd, making it 8-2.

The Hornets’ biggest rally came in the fifth inning. With two men on, S. Harwood hit a fielder’s choice that resulted in two runs crossing the plate, aided by a Wildcats’ fielding error, cutting the lead to 8-4. Rosnell Lewis then delivered an RBI double in the sixth, and another run scored on a Bethune-Cookman error, pulling Delaware State within 10-6 and applying pressure to the Wildcats’ bullpen.

The most important part of the game, however, was the immediate and decisive response from Bethune-Cookman in the bottom of the fourth and the shutdown relief that followed. Immediately after the Hornets scored in the top of the fourth, Wildcats right fielder Michael Rodriguez crushed a two-run double in the bottom half, stretching the lead back to 10-2 and halting Delaware State’s momentum. Later, with the score 10-6 in the sixth, Bethune-Cookman turned to reliever Logan Wirt. The right-hander delivered the game’s key performance, entering with two outs and a runner on base. He promptly ended the threat and then fired 3 1/3 perfect innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out one to silence the Hornets’ bats and secure the win.

Bethune-Cookman put the game fully out of reach with a four-run outburst in the eighth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Sergio Rivera and a run-scoring double by E. Almonte. The Wildcats’ offense was relentless, amassing 15 hits and taking full advantage of seven walks, four hit batters, and several Delaware State wild pitches and errors. Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two crucial RBIs, while Fernandez and Polledo each drove in two runs.

For Delaware State, which managed only six hits, Lewis stood out by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Hornets reliever Kaleb Scott provided four innings of solid work, allowing just two earned runs after the early exit of the starter.

The victory improved Bethune-Cookman’s record to 7-3, while Delaware State’s difficult start to the season continued, falling to 0-9. The two teams were scheduled to complete the doubleheader later Saturday afternoon.