DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman softball finally got their rematch with the Boston College Eagles. The teams last met in DeLand for the Hatter Classic, with BC driving in four runs in the sixth to take the game, in spite of solid defense by B-CU all around. Today's game was originally scheduled at the team's home opener, but weather did not permit. The opening of the game made a big challenge for the Wildcats; BC hitting big early, but B-CU kept composure and responded in a big way, claiming a lead and playing great defense to stay up for the win, 5-2.
Just four batters into the game, it appeared that B-CU may have its hands full against Atlantic Coast Conference foe, Boston College. An Eagle home run hit the fence and bounced over, with one runner on, to put BC up 2-0 in the first. Seemingly un-phased, B-CU responded in the bottom half of the inning, also with the fourth batter. With a full count, Allison Garcia cracked her own home run clearly over the same right field fence, batting in herself and Aurelia Gamch to knot up the score at 2-2.
Both teams locked down defensively in the second, and in the third, B-CU shut down a Boston College scoring opportunity, leaving two on base. However, in the bottom of the third, it was time for the Wildcats to shine. With three runners on, and two outs, Allison Garcia to take a solid 5-2 lead.
Both teams stiffened up defensively in the three and a half innings. The Wildcats only allowed two further hits in the game. The Eagles shut it down as well, allowing only three more hits, but no runs, while stranding four Wildcats on the bases. The Wildcats went on to hold their lead at three, and claim the 5-2 victory.
"We keep working on offense," said Head Coach Chris Cochran in discussing the keys to the game. "We talk about having quality at-bats, and how you can't take what happened to you in your first at-bat up to the plate with you on the second and third. Sabrina Ferguson had a really big hit for us; She came up for us, and that hit was key."
Although she only had a single hit in three at-bats, Allison Garcia grabbed 2 hits and 2 RBI, while Cesley Tafoya also had two hits in 3 at-bats.
The Wildcats played tough defense, led by Joana Hernandez, grabbing all throws to first and collecting 11 putouts, with excellent fielding by her fellow infielders, with Allison Garcia in the top of the fourth.
"We have a good group of kids," said Cochran, "and they understand the gat me and what you have to do to be successful in our sport. That's one of the things that I've really enjoyed this year, is coaching them, because we have more people that take on that responsibility of keeping the team in the game, and spirited; not allowing them to take a negative approach up to the plate."
The Wildcats move to 6-10 on the season, and head back to DeLand this weekend for the Stetson Invitational, where they will face off with Maine, Stetson, and Appalachian State. After a successful week, splitting games with Providence and topping Boston College, the Wildcats are looking to have a strong performance in the tournament, but each game is a new environment.
"It's good to build off of, but every day you have to start again," concluded Cochran. "You can't really rest on anything that you've done in your previous games. We'll have to do the same things well that we did today in order to be successful again this weekend."
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