PORT SAINT LUCIE, Fla. -- Barry  baseball spent Easter Sunday playing a team of top prospects from the New York Mets organization.

The Buccaneers played a tough game according to Mets 1B Dash Winningham, "This is the best team we've seen this spring training as far as college teams and other outside exhibitions, said the infielder, "they weren't intimidated at all and came right after us."

The Bucs struck early off of Mets starter Matt Blackham with Khalil Denson leading off the game with a triple and then scoring later on a passed ball.  

The Mets struck back in the bottom of the inning off of starter Erik Bauer to tie the game at 1-1.  

In the 2nd, the Bucs came out swinging , hitting back to back to back doubles to make the score 3-1. Ryan Baldwin started the inning off with an opposite field double and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Jonathan Quintana who ripped a pitch down the third base line.  The Bucs scored their second run of the inning when Alffredi Ramos crushed a ball in the gap, scoring Quintana.  



The Mets answered in the bottom half  and rallied with two runs all on two outs.  After a leadoff base-hit Bauer induced a 4-6-3 double play.  A double and walk set the table for the 2015 #1 overall pick for the Mets, Desmond Lindsay, to drop a hit into left field that scored both runs.

The Mets in the 3rd inning on a solo homerun off the bat of top prospect Winningham.

But the Bucs came out swinging once again, taking a 6-4 lead in the top of the 4th with Quintana starting the inning with a base hit up the middle and advancing to 3rd on a base knock by Ramos.

With runners on first and third, a Frank Gonzalez sacrificed Ramos to 2nd.  With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out Mike Diaz took the first pitch he saw and laced it up the middle scoring Quintana.

With runners on the corners Denson grounded in what looked to be an inning ending double play but an error allowed Ramos to score and Diaz to advance to third.  The Bucs ended the scoring barrage with Julian Abreu's sacrifice fly scoring Diaz.

The Mets regained the lead in the bottom of the 5th with two outs, when Brandon Brosher connected for a three run homer to put the Mets ahead for good.  The Mets would add two insurance runs in the later innings and brought in some top relievers to shut down the Bucs the rest of the way.

The Bucs were led offensively by a number of players.  Khalil Denson went 2-5, one run scored and two stolen bases.  Abreu finished with a knock, sacrifice- fly and an RBI.  DeGoti finished with two hits and a stolen base.  Baldwin had a double and a run scored.  Quintana was on base three time out of his four plate appearances going 2-4 with an RBI, run scored, and a stolen base.  Ramos was 2-4 with an RBI.  Gonzalez scored a run and had an RBI while Mike Diaz finished 1-2 with an RBI and a run scored.  The Bucs had four stolen bases on the day.  

On the mound, starter Erik Bauer did a fine job going 4.2 innings, allowing six hits four runs while inducing two double plays.  Other pitchers that saw action were Tony Borges, Jonathan Hernandez, Justin Walker, Blaine Duncan, and Adrian Benitez.  Benitez had a great inning for the Bucs as he struck out the first hitter he faced and got the three hole hitter to roll into a 6-4-3 double play.

Head coach Marc Pavao was very pleased by the whole event.  "This experience was tremendous for our program.  Our players handled it well and battled from start to finish.  I was very impressed by our hitter's approach and eagerness to attack," he added, " I know I wasn't the only one impressed; JP Ricciardi (Special Assistant to the General Manager of the Mets), complimented our team play and our hitter's approach and swings at the plate and that our pitchers also did a great job."

"A big thank you goes out to the NY Mets organization, specifically Tommy Tanous (Director of Amateur Scouting) who got the ball rolling and of course Ian Levin (Director of Minor League Operations) for scheduling the game," said the coach, "Finally, I'd like to thank the Barry University Family (administration, coaches, and fans) for supporting this very important event.  We look forward to continuing our relationship with the NY Mets in the future."