TOURNAMENT: Jacksonville University Invitational
DATES: Friday, Feb. 13 – Sunday, Feb. 15
TEAMS: Akron, Bethune-Cookman, Jacksonville, Syracuse
LOCATION: Jacksonville, Fla. | Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman University softball team continues road action as the Wildcats participate in their second-of-six tournaments this season, traveling to Jacksonville University for the three-day Jacksonville University Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida, Feb. 13-15.
The tournament field in includes B-CU, the host Dolphins, Syracuse and Akron.
The Cats open with Akron on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a nightcap with the host JU at 7 p.m. B-CU opens Saturday versus Syracuse during a noon first-pitch, finishing with Akron at 4 p.m., and wrapping-up tournament action Sunday at noon against Jacksonville.
All games will be played at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
Last Time Out
The Wildcats opened the 2015 season 0-5 at the Charleston Challenge, a week ago. B-CU fell to UNC Greensboro (14-11), UMass Lowell (6-2), Marshall (2-1), Army (11-9) and College of Charleston (8-2).
Wildcat Facts
Junior Sophia Ortega is batting a team-high .500 with nine hits including four doubles.
Sophomore Sabrina Anguiano saw action on the mound during all five games of opening weekend, in 26 innings pitched, she has given up 25 earned runs for an ERA of 6.73.
Rookie Nereyda Gutierrez and Ortega earning All-Tournament Honors at the Charleston Challenge.
Ortega was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week while Anguiano earned MEAC Pitcher of the Week and Gutierrez Rookie of the Week (Feb. 9).
Scouting the Opponents
Akron: The Zips stand at 2-3 overall after opening the 2015 season at Stetson's Lead-Off Classic. Akron picked up wins over Rhode Island (5-0) and Michigan State (4-2). Junior catcher McKenzi Rhodes is the team's top hitter, batting .556 with five hits and an RBI. On the mound, 2014 MAC Pitcher of the Year Erin Seiler captured both wins and stands 2-1 after 19.0 innings of action.
Series History: First Meeting
Jacksonville: The Dolphins welcomed No. 1 Florida, the defending national champions, for their home opener where they fell 16-1. Senior third baseman Lexie Ballard finished the game going a perfect at the plate (2-for-2), which included a homer to right field for the Dolphins' lone run.
Series History: JU holds 14-5 advantage
Syracuse: The Orange enter the weekend with a 3-2 record after wins over Illinois (10-1), Central Michigan (3-2) and Western Illinois (4-3). Sammy Fernandez is batting a team-best .467 with seven hits and seven runs while Corrine Ozanne heads the Orange in RBIs with six. Sydney O'Hara is one of two starting pitchers currently 2-0, with a 3.00 ERA in 14 innings pitched
Series History: First Meeting
Coverage
Live stats will be available on JUDolphins.com and fans can follow @BCUSoftball on Twitter for all game day information, including score updates.
