Bethune-Cookman made history Tuesday night in Baton Rouge.
The defending SWAC champions upset No. 24 LSU 10-7 at Alex Box Stadium for the Wildcats’ first win over a ranked opponent since 2017.
Bethune-Cookman jumped on LSU from the start
The Wildcats set the tone early and never fully let LSU settle in. Bethune-Cookman scored in the first three innings, then broke the game open in the third, building a 6-0 lead.
Erick Almonte drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, Sergio Rivera later scored on a catcher’s error in the second, and Jeter Polledo, Christopher Watson, and Almonte all added RBI in the third.
That early pressure forced LSU to play catch-up the rest of the night.
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Christopher Watson powered the Wildcats’ offense with a double, two home runs and four RBI in the earlier Southern series, and Bethune-Cookman carried that momentum into the LSU game. Michael Rodriguez entered the night on a four-game hitting streak, while Andrey Martinez had hit safely in five straight and produced eight hits, two homers and five RBI over that stretch.
Bethune-Cookman also got another strong start from Justin Morales, who came in 2-1 with a 1.13 ERA and had not allowed an earned run in five straight outings. The Wildcats’ ability to get early offense and steady pitching proved enough to finish the upset.
Bullpen shuts down LSU rally attempt
LSU answered late but could never completely erase the early deficit. The Tigers trimmed the gap with a late push, but Bethune-Cookman held on the strength of ace reliever Jean Carlos Zambrano, who did not allow a run over the final three innings. The biggest moment of the game came in the seventh when Zambrano was able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam.
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The Tigers were ranked No. 24 and had recently returned to the Top 25 after winning six of their previous eight games.
The victory stood out not just because of the opponent, but because of the company. Bethune-Cookman’s win over a ranked LSU team added another signature moment to a strong stretch for the Wildcats.
