JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Bethune-Cookman University softball team bounced back from a 0-5 opening weekend, collecting a pair of wins during day-one of the Jacksonville University Invitational. The Wildcats defeated Akron 8-5 during game one, followed by a 6-3 victory over the host Fins during a nightcap, Friday, Feb. 13 at Pruitt Complex.
Game One
Leading 5-0 early against Akron, the Zips belted out two runs in the top of the fifth to keep the game within distance.
The Cats answered in the bottom of the inning after junior Sophia Ortega (Highland, Calif.) registered her first homer of the season, scoring three, and pushing the B-CU lead to six.
A late three-run, three-hit rally from Akron in the top of the sixth closed the gap with the Wildcats, but B-CU was able to hold off the Zips during the seventh, capturing their first 2015 victory and win number one during the re-era of head coach Laura Watten.
Senior designated hitter Shamaria Engram (Dover, Fla.) led the Cats at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base, while Ortega's three-run homer led B-CU with three RBI's.
Sabrina Anguiano (1-5) threw all seven for the Wildcats, giving up seven-hits, five runs and three earned runs. The Hacienda Heights, Calif., native picked up her first victory during year two only walking a solo batter after facing 31.
Game Two
During the nightcap, the Cats faced off with tournament-host Jacksonville.
The Fins opened the 8:40 p.m., contest with a quick three run inning in the bottom of the first. Taking the 3-0 lead over B-CU.
After JU earned two outs in the top of the third, rookie Mariah Davis (Madera, Calif.) reached first on an error by the pitcher, followed by an Ortega single through the right side, advancing Davis to third.
Freshman Nereyda Gutierrez (Downey, Calif.) further the B-CU rally with a RBI single up the middle, putting the Cats on the board as Davis crossed the plate, and moving Ortega into scoring position. Engram followed in the five-spot with a double to center field, scoring Ortega, before the inning ended on a fly ball.
The Cats scored two runs on three hits, cutting the Fins lead to one.
A big, multi-hit top of the fourth for B-CU, led by a two-RBI double from Bailey Conner (Encinitas, Calif.), pushed the Cats on top of JU after four runs on three hits gave B-CU the 6-3 advantage.
The Fins were never able to answer the B-CU mid-game rally, as the Wildcats earn their second victory of the day, finishing 48 minutes shy of midnight.
Five Cats finished with a multi-hit game against JU as B-CU racked up 13 as a team. Ortega led the offensive charge with three hits during her first trips to the plate.
Conner (1-0) collected her season-first win in the circle after throwing a complete game in game two. The sophomore right-handed pitcher, allowed five hits, three runs, two earned and walked two, while fanning three batters during the B-CU victory.
The Wildcats return to action during day two of the Jacksonville Invitational, Saturday, Feb. 14, opening with Syracuse at noon, followed by a rematch with the Zips at 4 p.m.
Live stats will be available on JUDolphins.com and fans can follow @BCUSoftball on Twitter for all game day information, including score updates.
