May 8, 2008
Box Score
Ormond Beach, Fla. -
Anush Mooradian collected a sacrifice fly to right field to score Holly Bussey from third base to vault Bethune-Cookman University to a 4-3 win over Morgan State University in the first game of the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Tournament. The tournament is taking place at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.
With the game tied at 3, senior shortstop Holly Bussey walked to start the home-half of the seventh inning for the Wildcats (20-34). That forced MSU (14-20) head coach Jeff Bozier to make a pitching change as Carolynn Howard took over in the pitcher's circle.
Allison Garcia, a Second Team All-MEAC Pitcher, laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Bussey to scoring position at second base. Christina Trimble followed that up with a single through the left side to advance Bussey to second before then swiping second base, herself, with a catcher's indifference.
That's when Mooradian abruptly placed a 1-2 pitch to right field that allowed Bussey to score on a close play at the plate for the game-winning run.
"I was very proud of our composure today against a good team that played us well," stated B-CU second-year head coach Chris Cochran. "Allison [Garcia] didn't have her best day in the pitcher's circle, but she kept battling and the team picked her up with the bats when we needed them."
As the top team in the Southern Division, B-CU served as the home team. Morgan State entered the day as the fourth-ranked team in the Northern Division.
B-CU opened the game up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Bussey singled to center field to plate leadoff hitter Brandi Holley plating a RBI single to center field that scored catcher Liz Parrish. Parrish kick-started the at-bat for the `Cats with a single to left.
MSU took the lead in the top of the third inning as the Lady Bears scored three runs to go out in front, 3-2.
With the leadoff batter squarely put away on a bunt attempt, Dominisha Britton singled to short, followed by an error charged to the B-CU infield that allowed runners to go to second and third. Catcher Ashley Vazquez's double to right center plated both runners to tie the contest at 2-2. MSU took the lead on a Tamra Griffin double to left.
B-CU tied the game 3-3 when Mooradian registered the first of her game-high two (2) sacrifice flies to right field that scored Bussey.
"The girls played hard," admitted MSU head coach Jeff Bozier. "They [Bethune-Cookman] just made one more play than us this afternoon. Megan [Johnson] pitched a good game, but just couldn't pull it out for us."
B-CU will now face Howard University tonight at 7 p.m. The Bison, 2007 MEAC Champions, came from behind the defeat Florida A&M, 6-5. Morgan State now faces North Carolina A&T at 4:30 pm. The Aggies were knocked off by the Hornets of Delaware State. For up-to-date information, please visit www.MEACsports.com.
