May 12, 2012

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ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Nothing could stand between the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (30-29) and their third consecutive MEAC crown; not heavy inbound winds nor the battle-tested Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (28-29). After giving a little early, the Wildcats settled in and outlasted the Lady Rattlers for a 2-1 Championship win.

“I'm just really proud of our kids,” said Head Coach Chris Cochran. “They've been great all year, and they just kept playing, kept working, and stayed together. I'm just really happy for them.”

With the Lady Rattlers having blown past three straight tournament foes by a combined score of 27-10, a dogfight was expected from the start. FAMU showed they were ready to duke it out from the start, with a leadoff hit leading the way for a bases loaded RBI single through the left side, but the potential big inning was cut short by left fielder Calesha Shelley's spot-on throw to the plate, creating a rundown in the third base line for the final out.

“The first inning, I walked two, which opened up the game more for a run to score,” said pitcher Shanel Tolbert, “but after that I told myself that I wasn't giving up any more runs.”

It was a personal vow that was well kept, as she and the Wildcat defense only allowed three more hits in the remaining six innings.

B-CU did not simmer long before responding offensively, as catcher Sabrina Ferguson led off the second by legging out a base hit, beating the throw. She was joined by Karina Romero on a base-on-balls. Senior Cesley Tafoya made it count, getting in her biggest tournament hit, squeezing a hard-hit line drive straight down the left field line into the corner, for a two-run double to push the Wildcats on top, 2-1.

“I think it really just kept us focused because we knew we were in the game,” Tafoya said, “and we just had to hold FAMU down and keep going from there.”

FAMU threatened in the fourth, but shortstop Aurelia Gamch saved the Wildcats from a score, turning a kicked grounder into a highlight-reel play, with the presence of mind to ignore first and go home with the throw, giving Ferguson the tag-out on the tie run.

Tolbert (30-24) collected her fourth straight complete game win, her 30th of the season, extending her season wins record, all achieved in her first year as the primary starter.

Tolbert had a great outing, but how she finished it was truly at a championship level, giving nothing in the final three frames. With a pitch-count rising past the century mark, Tolbert closed the seventh with a pair of swinging strikeouts and a game-ending ground-out. She allowed just the single run and collected five strikeouts in the win.

“We played good defense throughout, and we had enough offense, but the key was Shanel,” said Cochran. “It's pretty awesome for a pitcher to play four games with only three earned runs.”

“She wanted to be out there and she just got it done. She's just a tough kid,” Cochran noted.

Tafoya went 1-for-1 with the pair of RBI, while Ferguson was 2-for-3 and scoring the first run. The second plate tag was supplied by Romero.

For Tafoya and Ferguson, it's especially sweet as the lone Wildcat seniors, finishing out with a third straight MEAC Championship and another trip to the NCAA tournament.

“In the beginning of the year, we knew it wasn't going to be easy,” Ferguson noted. “We started off rocky, but I believed in this team from the get-go and I let the girls know that. The feeling of knowing where we started to where we're ending with this championship game, it's unbelievable. I couldn't be happier.”

Head Coach Chris Cochran was named the MEAC Tournament Outstanding Coach for the third time, with Tolbert earning the Outstanding Performer award.  Shortstop Gamch and designated player Shamaria Engram joined Tolbert on the 2012 MEAC All-Tournament team.

For the tournament, Romero led the Wildcats with a .600 average, while Engram batted .455 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI. Tafoya (.429, 2B) and Gamch (.286, HR) each added three RBI.

Over the four game stretch, Tolbert recorded a .96 ERA on the 4-0 record, collecting 11 strikeouts, while allowing no extra-base hits and just one earned run in 28 innings pitched.

While it is the third straight MEAC Championship for B-CU, it's the program's eighth, and with the win, Bethune-Cookman receives the MEAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Softball Championship. The NCAA Softball Championship pairings will be announced Sunday on the 10:00 p.m. on ESPNU.

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