Feb. 20, 2010
Final Stats
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MIAMI, Fla. – The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman Softball continued play Saturday at the FIU Blue and Gold Felsberg Invitational, looking to bounce back after falling in both games Friday. On Saturday's slate laid two tough opponents, Florida Gulf Coast early in the day, and a rematch with Florida International to close out the day. B-CU came away with a solid win to open the day, defeating FGCU on late inning scores. However, in the evening, FIU topped rallying in the final inning to defeat B-CU 3-2.
In the first game of the day, beginning in the early afternoon, the Wildcats faced off with the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast. FGCU put a score on the board right away, scoring on the fourth batter. However, the Wildcats quickly put away the order and checked them for the next six innings in a solid defensive performance.
Down 1-0 in the fifth inning, the Wildcats started to come around offensively, putting two runs in during the bottom of the fifth. Ashton Hinds singled through the shortstop to bat in Briana Leverett from third for B-CU's first run of the day. One batter later, after stealing two bases, Hinds was able to cross the plate herself, on an Aurelia Gamch single up the middle, taking a 2-1 lead.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, as an FGCU passed ball pushed the loaded bases forward to bring Sabrina Ferguson in from third, and take the final 3-1 lead.
Liz Parrish, who had 7.
Allison Garcia started and closed the game on the mound against FGCU, collecting 7 strikeouts, allowing 1 earned run.
Returning for an early evening game against tournament-host Florida International, the Wildcats looked to avenge the dominating defeat from the previous evening. In the final game of Friday evening, FIU found their stick late and went on to defeat B-CU 15-1. This evening's game was not nearly the offensive clinic, but rather a defensive struggle.
Bethune-Cookman made the first strike, as Ashton Hinds continued on her strong day already, hitting a home run to left field as the leadoff batter in the first inning.
The Wildcats held FIU from scoring and then added another run in the top of the third inning, as Allison Garcia. However, this inning the Panthers were able to answer, putting a run on the board on a double to center field, making the B-CU lead 2-1.
The lead stood for the next three innings, as B-CU got no hits, but shut down all of FIU's opportunities to score. In the top of the seventh, FIU shut down B-CU in the top of the inning, but found their offense in the bottom. FIU collected four hits in the final inning to first tie the score and then take the final lead on a line-drive single down the left field line, coming from behind to win 3-2.
B-CU could never get the hits rolling, only getting two, but capitalized on opportunities to get in a leading position. Ashton Hinds' opening-batter home run led the team and went a long way for setting the leading mindset throughout the game. On defense, three Wildcats, Liz Parrish each had 2 putouts apiece, while Parrish also finished with 8 assists.
Allison Garcia started the second game at pitcher for the Wildcats, but did not close the game, as Chastity Sanders came in to face the final batter. Garcia collected another 7 strikeouts, but allowed three earned runs. Today's losses move Garcia to 2-3 on the season.
B-CU (2-6) wraps up the tournament Sunday morning, opening the day's games, matching up with Big Ten opponent Wisconsin at 9:00 a.m.
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