DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite being named the preseason favorite, Bethune-Cookman softball did not take its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener lightly. Short on numbers and non-conference victories, the Wildcats opened league action setting a new season tempo for conference play with two convincing run-rule victories over South Carolina State (8-0, 22-1) on Friday, April 3 in Daytona Beach.
The Wildcats 22 runs in game two marks the most from a Bethune-Cookman squad since March 17, 2007 when B-CU scored 24 against Savannah State, while the Wildcat's 23 hits stands a team-best since April 3, 2007 (24 vs. SSU).
Game One
The 'Cats scored early after a Mariah Davis walk, and SCSU's pitcher Jareece Sayles hit back-to-back batters, loaded the bases for B-CU. Kaitlin Alamprese's shot to second gave Davis enough time to head home, putting the Wildcats on the board 1-0 in after the end of the first.
After continuing to hold the Bulldogs scoreless, Geena Capitini led off the second for the 'Cats, reaching first on a hit-by-pitch. With one out, the Wildcat rookie, Bryanna Campos collected her first career homer with a two-run shot over the left field fence. Senior Calesha Shelley followed with her first bunt for a single on the afternoon and moved into scoring position after stealing second.
A sacrifice bunt from Davis, moved Shelley to third before the senior outfielder crossed home plate on a Bulldog wild pitch.
Leading 4-0, the third and fourth inning remained scoreless between both teams.
Bottom of the fifth for B-CU added to their lead as Shamaria Engram started the inning with a single up the middle. The senior first baseman beat out the fielder's choice on Alamprese's hit to shortstop, as Engram continued to third on a throwing error by the Bulldog's fielder.
After Alamprese stole second on the first and third situation, Melissa Berouty's sac fly to left field scored Engram and moved Alamprese to third. Designated hitter, Capitini, knocked in her fourth season homer, scoring Alamprese and pushing the Wildcat lead to 7-0, one shy of the fifth inning rule-run limit.
The Bulldogs attempted to push another inning after loading the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. The Wildcat defense held, as Alamprese made a play in center, followed by a ground ball to Sophia Ortega at short.
Shelley led off in the sixth, bunting for a single and stealing second, followed by a Davis single to left field.
Ortega cut the game short for SCSU with a shot to center field, scoring Shelley, as B-CU collected the 8-0 victory.
Sophomore Sabrina Anguiano (5-20, 1-0 MEAC) picked up the Wildcat victory throwing the entire six innings, allowing five hits and striking out three batters during the shutout.
Shelley led the B-CU offense finishing her final MEAC opener going 3-for-4 from the plate with two runs and two stolen bases.
Game Two
The Wildcat bats did not quite during game two, as B-CU opened the bottom half of the first frame scoring a quick four runs on six first-inning hits.
After going completely through the lineup in the first, the second inning for the Wildcats turned into a slugfest as Bethune-Cookman posted 8 runs on 8 hits.
Shelley opened the second with her fourth-straight bunt for a single on the afternoon and picked up her fourth stolen base. Davis followed with a single to third base, while a two-RBI double to left center from Ortega, scored the pair.
An Engram homer cleared the bases, and with no outs Alamprese reached first after being walked and then moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Back-to-back singles from Berouty and Capitini added two more Wildcat runs, as Wandy Darby legged out a bunt for a single, moving Capitini to second.
Campos loaded the bases with a single to right field, followed by a Shelley walk, scoring Capitini.
With no outs and eight runs on the board in the second, the Bulldogs made a change at the mound swapping Cecily Ruiz for starter, Keirra Cromer.
Darby scored on a passed ball, before the Wildcats scoring rally was cut short. With a double play and pop up to the SCSU catcher.
The 'Cats added one more run in the third, pulling well ahead of the eight-run, run rule with a 13-0 lead heading into the fourth.
In the top of the fourth, head coach Laura Watten replaced Anguiano at the mound, as senior Breanna Chavez made her first season appearance. Three-straight batters grounded out to third during Chavez first inning, as B-CU continued to hold SCSU scoreless.
A huge fourth inning for B-CU gave the Wildcats the 22-0 lead after nine runs crossed the plate on nine hits in the bottom half of the frame.
After outscoring the Bulldogs 30-0 on the afternoon, SCSU broke its scoring silence in the top of the fifth, scoring one run on two hits and leaving the bases loaded to end the game.
Anguiano (6-20, 2-0 MEAC) collected the Wildcat win after throwing the first three innings during game two. The sophomore hurler gave up five hits while striking out two, and held the Bulldogs scoreless during her nine total innings in the circle.
Shelley finished with a perfect plate appearance during game two going 4-for-4 with four runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases.
Six additional Wildcats had multiple hits during the victory while Davis tied Shelley's four, finishing 4-for-5 in the box with three runs and a team-high four RBIs.
B-CU returns to action, Saturday, April 4 as the Wildcats wrap up the three-game series with South Carolina State at noon at Sunnyland Park.
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