April 9, 2008

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman woke up in time to collect a nightcap victory after dropping the first game as the Wildcats split a non-conference softball doubleheader with North Florida on Wednesday afternoon at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Fla. UNF took the first game by a score of 11-3, while the `Cats won the second, 5-1.

B-CU (13-30) used a strong pitching performance from MEAC Player of the Week and freshman hurler Allison Garcia who threw seven full frames in the circle for the Wildcats. Garcia allowed just one run on seven hits in the contest against the visiting Ospreys.

B-CU jumped on top 3-0 in the first inning with a two-run double to center field from Christina Trimble that scored Brandi Holley on the play. B-CU added another run when Trimble crossed on a single past second base by freshman third baseman Anush Mooradian.

UNF (34-21) scored their only run of the second game in the top-half of the fourth inning as the Ospreys put runners on all bases for the second time in the game ... but scored just once as B-CU's Garcia was able to shut them down when needed. But in the fourth, UNF catcher Stephanie Luciani was hit by a pitch to collect an old-fashioned RBI to plate designated player Lauren Pulling. Pulling put herself into scoring position with a double down the left field line earlier in the inning.

B-CU pushed their advantage out to 5-1 in the home-half of the fifth frame.

Leadoff batter Ashton Hinds kicked off the inning with a double to left, followed by a single from Bussey that crossed Hinds. Bussey came around to score moments later with the help of a RBI double down the left field line from Garcia.

Garcia collected the win to move her record to 12-15, all the while collecting her seventh consecutive victory as a starter in the pitcher's circle. The loss went to UNF's Joanna Kurycki who dropped to 1-3 on the campaign.

B-CU got help as a team, literally, in the second game as seven batters collected a hit each. Bussey scored twice for the `Cats. UNF was helped by seven players with a hit each as well.

In the opening game of the day, the Ospreys and Wildcats each scored two runs in the opening frame to remained deadlocked ... though at 2-2.

In the third frame, UNF negated the tie with a homerun to right center from Heather Hyde that also scored center fielder Kara Rutenbar. In the fourth, the Ospreys plated two more runs with a two-out rally started by a walk drawn by leadoff hitter Ashley Parenteau and a run-scoring double by Rutenbar. Rutenbar later scored herself with a Hyde double to right center.

B-CU cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Trimble scored on a Brittani Austin double to straight away center field. That made the score 6-3 in favor of the Ospreys.

But UNF plated five runs in the sixth to earn the run-rule decision after six innings.

B-CU's Chastity Sanders stayed winless on the year as she took the loss to drop to 0-8 as a pitcher. UNF starter Tori Ahern improved to 15-8 with the win as she went ix innings and gave up three runs on five hits. She also struck-out six batters.

At the plate, UNF was led in the first game by Rutenbar with a perfect 4-for-4 showing as she scored four times and collected two RBI. Behind her was Hyde with two hits, three RBI and two runs as well. B-CU was led by the play of Trimble with a 2-for-3 performance as well as a RBI and a run scored.

The Wildcats will take the field again on Saturday with a doubleheader affair at Winston-Salem State University beginning at 1 p.m. The games will, however, count as a non-conference affair. For more information, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.