BOCA RATON, Fla. – Mariah Davis' center field shot, was enough to break the 1-1 tie and give Bethune-Cookman the go ahead run (2-1) over Coastal Carolina during the opening game of day two at the Florida Atlantic Parents' Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Wildcats split the day after suffering a 6-0 shutout, falling to the tournament-host Owls in a late afternoon match-up.
Game One
After trailing early on, the Wildcats used a sacrifice bunt and single to center field, to gain the go ahead run in the top of the 8th inning, holding off the Chanticleers for a 2-1 victory.
The opening two innings remained scoreless between both teams before Coastal opened the lid as a RBI single to right field from Morgan Rod in the bottom of the third, scored Kailey Mellen from second, who was hit by a pitch.
Trailing 1-0, B-CU answered in the top of the fourth as Sophia Ortega collected her only hit of the game with a one-out single to left field. Ortega was called out at second after the Chanticleer shortstop Sara Rasley attempt at a double-play, caught Ortega but allowed Shamaria Engram to leg out an extra base on the throwing error.
An unearned run crossed the plate for the Wildcats after Kaitlin Alamprese's single to right field scored Engram from second. B-CU knotted the score 1-1 after one run, two hits, one error and two left on base wrapped up the top of the fourth frame.
The standard seven innings ended at one all, as B-CU's Breanna Chavez was placed on second to open the eighth.
Wanda Darby opened the inning with a walk before Wildcat senior Calesha Shelley laid down a sac bunt sending Chavez to third with one out. Rookie Mariah Davis stepped to the plate, collecting her second hit of the game with a RBI single to center field, scoring Chavez. Davis advanced to second on the throw as Darby was caught at the plate, giving Coastal two outs. Ortega grounded out to the pitcher to wrap up the inning, B-CU on top 2-0.
The Chanticleer's Morgan Noad started the inning on second as a single from left fielder Kiana Quolas pushed Noad to third. With no outs, tight Wildcat defense held as Noad was caught at home before a fly out and foul out ended the inning, giving B-CU the 2-1 victory in the eighth.
Sophomore Sabrina Anguiano (3-14) collected the Wildcat win throwing four innings, giving up three hits, no runs and fanning one Coastal batter.
Game Two
Sophia Ortega's two hits was not enough during game two as the Wildcat's were shutout by the host Owls 6-0.
To open the contest Ortega singled to center with two outs followed by an Engram walk. Alamprese's single to center loaded the basses before Bryanna Campos strike out left three stranded.
FAU slowly added runs to the board scoring one in the second, two in the fourth and one run during the final five through seven.
Anguiano (3-15) suffered the Wildcat loss after throwing four innings, allowing five of the nine FAU hits and four of the six runs.
B-CU wraps up its stay in Boca Raton with a 12:45 p.m. rematch against the Owls Sunday, March 8.
Live stats for all games will be available at fausports.com. For tickets, call the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.The tournament central page can be found here.
