DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats erupted for 23 runs on 16 hits Thursday, crushing the Grambling Tigers 23-1 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Grambling took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but that advantage vanished quickly. Bethune-Cookman answered with four runs in the bottom half and never let up, scoring in every inning they batted. The Wildcats improved to 36-17 overall, while Grambling dropped to 21-27.

The decisive moment came in the third inning. With the score already 7-1, Bethune-Cookman sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on six hits, a walk, two hit batsmen and an error. Darryl Lee started the rally with a double and later capped it with a triple that cleared the bases. Andrey Martinez followed with a two-run homer, and by the time the inning ended, the Wildcats led 17-1.

Lee, who entered the game with a recent hot streak that included a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI in a win at Alabama State on May 9, finished 4-for-6 with four RBIs. He doubled, tripled and scored three times. Michael Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases, and Maikol Lucena contributed a 2-for-2 day with three RBIs, including a two-run double in the first inning.

Jose Fernandez added three RBIs on 2-for-3 hitting, and Ruben Zuany homered in a 1-for-1 performance, driving in three. Andrey Martinez also homered and had two RBIs. Jeter Polledo drove in two runs on a double.

Bethune-Cookman starter Edwin Sanchez earned the win, allowing one hit and no earned runs over four innings with three strikeouts. Three relievers combined for three scoreless innings, with Logan Wirt and Ethan Diaz each throwing a shutout frame.

Grambling managed only four hits. Martavius Thomas doubled and scored the Tigers’ only run on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Ryan Davis singled and stole a base. The Tigers struck out six times and left five runners on base.

Bethune-Cookman’s offensive onslaught included a three-run triple by Lee in the third, a two-run triple by Rodriguez in the same frame and a two-run homer by Martinez. The Wildcats added four more runs in the fifth and sixth innings, including Zuany’s two-run homer in the fifth and a run-scoring single by Lee in the sixth.

Grambling’s pitching staff used four pitchers, but none could slow the Wildcats. The Tigers allowed 10 walks, hit five batters and threw a wild pitch that contributed to the third-inning outburst.

The series continues Friday and Saturday with the teams scheduled to play again at the same venue.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Grambling 7, Bethune-Cookman 5, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Bethune-Cookman a 71.60 percent probability to win before the game.