LOS ANGELES – Bethune-Cookman Softball dropped a pair of games at the LMU/Muscle Milk Softball Invitational on Friday at Smith Field, on the campus of Loyola Marymount University. The Wildcats fell to Harvard in the opener, 7-4, before losing to host Loyola Marymount in the nightcap, 12-0.
RECAP (HARVARD 7, B-CU 4)
Harvard scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to earn a come-from-behind 7-4 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the first game of second day action at the LMU/Muscle Milk Softball Invitational at Smith Field in Los Angeles.
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the second, Bethune-Cookman (6-22) surged out in front in the home-half of the inning.
Second baseman Kaitlin Alamprese kicked off the at-bat with a leadoff triple, while Melissa Berouty followed her in the order drawing a walk. Ciera Banks, pinch running for Berouty, stole second on the first pitch from Harvard's Taylor Cabe. B-CU immediately loaded the bases with no outs after designated hitter Geena Capitini's fielder's choice to third.
The Wildcats cut into the deficit with a pair of runs off the bat of senior right fielder Breanna Chavez, as the California native drove a double to the right field wall, plating Capitini and Banks on the play. Mariah Davis registered a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Campos to score from third, knotting the game at 3-3.
B-CU took the lead off the bat of shortstop Sophia Ortega who delivered a run-scoring single down the right field line, crossing Bryanna Campos for the 4-3 advantage.
Harvard (6-11) scored four runs in the top of the fourth to earn the win – the second in as many days for the Crimson over the Wildcats.
With three players aboard and just one out, second baseman Giana Panariello cleared the bases – scoring herself courtesy a Wildcats error – with a three-run double to center field, giving the Crimson a 7-4 lead all on one play. After Lindsey Hagberg singled in the next at-bat, B-CU pitcher Sabrina Anguiano induced a double play ball to end the side.
Bethune-Cookman was unable to net a base runner the rest of the way, falling to 0-2 in the tournament.
Harvard's Morgan Groom earned the win in relief action, improving her record to 2-1 on the year. She pitched five innings in the circle, striking out three batters and never surrendering a hit or allowing a base runner.
Anguiano took the loss for B-CU out of the bullpen, falling to 3-18 on the year. The Hacienda Heights, California native threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out two against a single walk.
A pair of Wildcats led the offense, sparked by Ortega's 2-for-3 showing at the dish, adding a RBI. Left fielder Calesha Shelley was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Alamprese and Chavez each added a run – plus Chavez's two RBI and run scored.
RECAP (LMU 12, B-CU 0)
Loyola Marymount's Rachael Farrington allowed just six hits in tossing a complete-game shutout of Bethune-Cookman, 12-0 in a run-rule game ending in the fifth inning at Smith Field in Los Angeles.
LMU (16-20) scored runs in the first four innings, respectively, en route to the victory in the second game of the day for the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman. B-CU fell in its first game to Harvard to begin the day.
Bethune-Cookman (6-23) looked strong at the start, registering three hits in the top-half of the first inning.
Calesha Shelley singled with a leadoff bunt, followed by Mariah Davis' bunt single to put pressure on the Lions defense. Sophia Ortega moved Davis into scoring position with a single to left, but a double play turned ended the side in the next at-bat.
B-CU would collect just three hits the rest of the way as the Lions netted 12 runs on 13 hits in the game.
With the win, Farrington improved to 11-9 on the season for LMU, while B-CU's Sabrina Anguiano accepted the loss in falling to 3-19 for the year. Breanna Chavez tossed 1 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in her first action inside the circle all season, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.
The Wildcats offense was led by Kaitlin Alamprese with a strong 2-for-2 showing, while four other Cats earned hits.
The Wildcats compete in just a single game on Saturday, taking on UC Riverside at 11 a.m. PST. Follow all the action at the LMU/Muscle Milk Softball Invitational by clicking here.
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