April 17, 2010
Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2
Call SB Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Opening the series with Winston-Salem State, the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman softball got off to a great start, sweeping the Rams on the first day of games. Amidst a defensive struggle in game one, the Wildcats got rolling late, led by Allie Garcia's two RBI's to a 4-2 win. The Wildcats came out hitting big in game two, dropping in four runs to open the game, set off by Cesley Tafoya's RBI single. Five Wildcats collected two hits apiece en route to a 6-0 shutout. Taking the early series lead, the Wildcats moved into a winning record late in the season for the first time since 2006.
The Rams kept the Wildcats checked early in the game, allowing just four hits in the first five innings, and stranding runners. However, B-CU came to life in the sixth and began to turn hits into scoring plays, set off by Allison Garcia, who reached on a dropped fly ball in center, which sent Michelle Banuelos-Smith cracked an RBI single to send Aurelia Gamch home for the 2-0 lead.
B-CU brought the bats again in the seventh, as Cesley Tafoya hit an RBI single to bring Hinds in for another run after claiming third on steals. Up next, Garcia followed up with another RBI single to bring Gamch home again.
Through the final two innings, WSSU responded, but the Wildcats were able to leave four Rams on base, and double up the Rams on scores. The Wildcats wrapped up the seventh with a 4-2 win for B-CU.
Starting the late-game scoring, Allison Garcia led the Wildcats in hitting, collecting 2 hits and 2 RBI. On defense, Joana Hernandez tallied 13 putouts to lead the team, working with the help of Michelle Banuelos-Smith, making 6 assists from third base. Garcia (15-12) tallied 4 strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs. Garcia's team-leading ERA now sits at 2.32.
Coming out of the game break, the Wildcats carried their late game momentum into the first at-bats of the second game. Six hits in the opening inning translated into a great start for the second game, set off by another RBI single by Tafoya, scoring Hinds for the first run of the game. Tafoya then scored from third on a passed ball with Garcia at the plate. Banuelos-Smith pushed Garcia and Sabrina Ferguson across the plate with a two-RBI single to left field, closing the inning with an early 4-0 lead.
While the Rams slowed the Wildcat offensive attack, B-CU poured in two more, with Tameika Jonas scoring on a Gamch single in second, and Tafoya scored B-CU's final run on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly by Brittani Austin.
All the while, the Wildcats played outstanding defense, holding the Rams to just one hit in the game, a season best. After cutting so close to a no-hitter, the Wildcats pulled the shutout, defeating Winston-Salem State 6-0, and taking an early series lead of 2-0.
Five Wildcats earned 2 hits each in the second game, led by Allison Garcia, and Chastity Sanders (6-8) pitched the complete game, striking out 1 batter and walking another.
Continuing their great season, the Wildcats earned their first step over .500, late in the season, since 2006. B-CU is now at a record of 21-20, and looking to extend the wins as they return to wrap up the series, Sunday at noon in Winston-Salem.
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