CINCINNATI, Ohio – For the second consecutive season, the Wilberforce University baseball team has qualified for the HBCUAC Baseball Championships.  

By virtue of the doubleheader split with Rust Friday at the Reds Urban Youth Academy, the Bulldogs will be the East Division's third seed.  

GAME ONE: WILBERFORCE 14, RUST 7 

Eight straight batters reached with two outs as the Bulldogs put an eight spot on the board in the fourth en route to claiming the opener.  

Wilberforce added four insurance runs in the sixth inning.  

Junior Joe Mendy led the WU offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI, while junior Daunte Ward was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.  

Junior Darius Woodson recorded a pair of hits, while sophomore Christopher Alcantara-Diaz had a pair of RBI.  

Sophomore Juan Gomez (3-3) allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits over six innings.  

GAME TWO: RUST 14, WILBERFORCE 13 

Eight of the nine starters recorded at least one hit and Wilberforce had the tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning but fell in the nightcap of the doubleheader. 

Rust used a pair of five run innings to record the split.  

Woodson finished 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI. Four Bulldogs – senior Beau Spears, senior Kevin Smith, Jr., Mendy, and Ward – all had two hits and at least one RBI. Alcantara-Diaz launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh that pulled the Bulldogs to within one.  

Freshman Craig Smith, Jr. (2-1) allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 10 hits in 4.2 innings. 

The two teams will wrap up their regular seasons 1 p.m. Saturday.