DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Interstat) — The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, fueled by a dominant pitching performance from starter Michael Benedict and a relentless 13-hit attack, overwhelmed the Delaware State Hornets 14-0 on Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader.

The victory improved Bethune-Cookman’s record to 9-3, while Delaware State’s difficult start to the season deepened, falling to 0-11.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the third inning, where Bethune-Cookman broke a scoreless tie and seized control for good. Benedict had set the tone by striking out the side in the first inning and facing the minimum through three, allowing his offense to find its rhythm. In the third, the Wildcats erupted for four runs on three hits, two walks, a hit batter and a critical Delaware State error. The inning featured an RBI single from Jorge Polledo, a run-scoring single from Jorge Rodriguez and two more runs that crossed on a stolen base and a subsequent throwing error by the Hornets’ catcher, followed by a caught stealing that still allowed a run to score.

That outburst was more than enough for Benedict, who delivered his best outing of the young season. The right-hander pitched four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. He faced only one batter over the minimum, effectively silencing a Hornets lineup that managed just two singles total. This strong start provided a needed rebound for Benedict, who had surrendered five earned runs in his previous appearance.

Bethune-Cookman’s offense, however, was far from done. They sent 13 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth inning, blowing the game open and taking a 10-0 lead. Rodriguez was central to the onslaught, driving in another run with a single as part of his 3-for-4, three-RBI day. Darryl Lee added two doubles as part of a 3-for-4 performance, scoring three times. Michael Rodriguez contributed a two-run single in the fourth, and Jose Fernandez drove in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Wildcats added three more in the fifth and a final run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter J. Chicano. Four Bethune-Cookman relievers — Pablo Torres, David Morrissey, Bryon Rincones and James Breen — combined for three perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts, preserving the shutout.

Delaware State’s offensive struggles continued unabated. Their only threats were a third-inning single and stolen base by G. Hudson, which was stranded, and a two-out walk and stolen base in the fifth that also went unrewarded. Hornets pitchers Shane Carter and James Breen were charged with the bulk of the runs in relief.

The game far exceeded the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-0 Wildcats victory. Bethune-Cookman’s ELO probability to win was 82.4 percent.

Bethune-Cookman will look to carry this momentum into a midweek road test at Miami (FL) on Wednesday. Delaware State, still in search of its first win, will continue its road swing at Le Moyne on March 8.