March 27, 2010
Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats' slow start to open the day against Alabama State cost them the sweep at Sunnyland Park, running out of innings in their comeback. Once they got rolling, B-CU was in position to tie or win in the seventh, but fell to the Lady Hornets, 6-5, to open the double-header. In game two, they showed that they had gained their focus, overpowering ASU, 9-1, in a sixth-inning decision.
The Lady Hornets came out hard in the opening game, while the Wildcats struggled to get going in both aspects of the game. ASU hit big in each of the first two innings, holding B-CU to just one hit at the same time, to take an early 5-0 lead heading into the third inning. Things started to get going for B-CU as Allison Garcia replaced Chastity Sanders on the mound in the top of the third, putting a stop to the ASU scoring spree.
B-CU allowed just one more ASU run, in the top of the fourth, before cranking up their own scoring attack. Playing the spark on both ends, Garcia fired a long home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth to collect B-CU's first run on the board. On the very next batter, Sabrina Ferguson put another one out of the park, hitting over the fence in left center field. The Wildcats wrapped the inning down 6-2 on the Lady Hornets.
The Wildcats started to roll, holding ASU scoreless, and scoring in small increments. In the bottom of the fifth, Michelle Banuelos-Smith scoring on an ASU error, and Toni Davis crossing home plate on an Aurelia Gamch single to center. B-CU closed the inning back in the game, down just 6-5.
After holding ASU down once more, B-CU had a runner in position to tie in the bottom of the seventh, but poorly-placed hits shut down the Wildcat rally, as B-CU fell 6-5 with the final out.
“At some point this year, we're going to figure out that we need to come out ready to go at the start of the first game. We're very inconsistent at times with what we do in the opening innings of the first game,” said Head Coach Chris Cochran. “We would make it easier on ourselves if we would start a little stronger.”
Hitting 3-of-4 in the first game, Allison Garcia pitched five innings with 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 1 run allowed.
In the second game, the Wildcats were warmed up and ready to go, collecting runs in four of six innings. Although the Lady Hornets got on the board first in the opening inning, the Wildcats held them down for the remainder, only allowing one score. B-CU was quick to answer, knotting up the score in the bottom of the first, as Ashton Hinds tagged up and took home on a Cesley Tafoya sacrifice fly.
The Wildcats got right back to work in the second, with Michelle Banuelos-Smith scoring on the throw from Brittani Austin through home plate and put B-CU on top 3-1.
After two innings without a run, the Wildcats opened the flood gates on the Lady Hornets, tallying five hits for big scores. Allie Garcia set off the scoring spree with a solid double, batting Hinds and Cesley Tafoya in for RBI's. Next up, Sabrina Ferguson singled up the middle to bat Garcia in for the run. On the next batter, Banuelos-Smith hit a single up the middle to bring Ferguson home on the throw. To close out the inning, B-CU took advantage of an ASU overthrow error, with Banuelos-Smith scoring on the error. B-CU wrapped up the fifth inning on top 8-1.
The Wildcats closed out the game strong on defense, and collecting the necessary run to shut down the game early in the sixth inning. B-CU hit back-to-back doubles as Ferguson brought Garcia in for the winning run, topping ASU 9-1 in the second game.
The Wildcats brought their bats in the second game, collecting 13 team hits, and scored 9 runs even with some missed scoring opportunities. Leading the way, Allison Garcia and Michelle Banuelos-Smith and Ashton Hinds both finished with 2 hits and 1 RBI. Defensively Joana Hernandez tallied 11 putouts, helped along by Garcia with 6 assists. Garcia (9-10) started and finished the game on the mound, striking out 4, while allowing a single run.
Next on the slate for the Wildcats (14-16) is the opening of play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). B-CU takes on its first MEAC opponent next weekend, April 2, as they travel to face Norfolk State in a three game series.
“Every game in this conference is difficult,” notes Coach Cochran of this week's emphasis. “You have to come out ready to go, because each team is going to come out after you.”
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