JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman dropped a pair of games on Saturday at the Jacksonville University Invitational held at the Pruitt Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. B-CU fell in its opening game to Syracuse, 5-4, before dropping the nightcap to Akron, 8-0 in a run-rule decision that went just five innings.
GAME ONE RECAP
Calesha Shelley and Mariah Davis followed each other in the batting order with a 2-for-4 plate performance for Bethune-Cookman (2-6), but the Wildcats could not muster up enough runs in a late comeback attempt against Syracuse (4-4).
With the Orange already leading 3-0 after three innings, the Atlantic Coast Conference newcomers added two runs in the fourth which would prove to be too much for Laura Watten's team to overcome.
Syracuse shortstop Sammy Fernandez drove in a pair of runs with the bases loaded off a single to right field that scored Alyssa Dewes and Mary Dombrowski for the 5-0 Orange advantage.
B-CU began a furious comeback attempt in the top-half of the fifth inning.
Kaitlin Alamprese scored from third, while Calesha Shelley reached safely on an error charged to the Syracuse infield, cutting into the lead at 5-1 in the top of the fourth inning. One frame later, B-CU tacked on two additional runs as Shamaria Engram ripped her first home run of the year with a two-run shot to left that also scored Wanda Darby.
B-CU's comeback attempt got closer in the top of the seventh when Shelley knocked a two-out triple to left center, and came in to score one play later as Mariah Davis stroked a single past Syracuse's Fernandez at shortstop. That made the B-CU deficit just a single run at 5-4.
However, the Cats could not bring in Davis before the final out was secured, giving the Orange a 5-4 victory.
Syracuse starting pitcher Sydney O'Hara earned the win, upping her record to 3-1 on the year. She tossed all seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck-out six. The loss went to B-CU starter Sabrina Anguiano, as she fell to 1-6 on the year, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out a season-best eight batters in five innings of work. B-CU reliever Bailey Conner worked two innings, giving up two runs on two hits and walking four.
GAME TWO RECAP
Akron starting pitcher Erin Seiler allowed just two hits and fanned six as she helped the Zips to an 8-0 run-rule decision over Bethune-Cookman in a five-inning affair.
Akron (4-4) scored three times in the first two innings, using a RBI single from Chelsea Wildey to plate Kellie Roudabush for the game's opening run in the first. That was followed by Savannah Fruin's RBI single to right that allowed Wildey to score for the 2-0 Akron advantage. The third run was plated in the second inning when Taryn Allmon singled to right in order to bring in Sara Pearson.
Akron later struck for five runs in the home-half of the fifth inning, leading to the eventual 8-0 decision.
Seiler earned the win for the Zips, as she spread out two hits in five innings pitched, striking out six and walking just one. With the win, she ran her record for the year out to 4-1, while Bethune-Cookman's Conner accepted her first loss of the year to fall even at 1-1.
The hits for B-CU were collected by Mariah Davis and Kaitlin Alamprese.
The Cats are now an even 2-2 in the Jacksonville University Invitational, after falling twice on Saturday, but collecting a pair of wins on Friday.
B-CU will finish the tournament Sunday when the Wildcats take on tournament host Jacksonville University at noon.
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