DURHAM, N.C. - Battling the North Carolina rain majority of the afternoon, the Bethune-Cookman softball team was able to remain unbeaten in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play as the Wildcats defeated North Carolina Central 10-0 and 4-2, Tuesday, April 7 in Durham, North Carolina.
During the 'Cats opening five MEAC games, B-CU has outscored its opponent 51-3.
Game One
With the chance of heavy rain in the Raleigh-Durham area, and first pitch of game one moved up an hour, the Wildcats wasted no time putting runs on the scoreboard in Durham.
Both teams were held scoreless in the first, until with one out in the top of the second Bryanna Campos single to left field and advance on a passed ball, placed a 'Cat in scoring position.
Geena Capitini walked, followed by a Wanda Darby single loading the bases for B-CU with one out.
Rookie Mariah Davis cleared the bases with a RBI-triple down the left field line, scoring all of her teammates and giving B-CU the 3-0 lead early. Sophia Ortega followed Davis with a single, scoring her teammate from third before the inning ended with four Wildcat runs on four hits.
After a scoreless third, the 'Cats struck again in the top of the fourth after Darby singled up the middle and Calesha Shelley followed with a single for a bunt. Davis reached first on an error by NCCU second baseman Tiphani Jackson, as Darby and Shelley scored on the Eagle's miscues. An Ortega triple scored Davis from second before Ortega crossed home plate on a passed ball.
With no outs, Shamaria Engram walked and then stole second before Kaitlin Alamprese walked, putting runners on first and second.
A Melissa Berouty sacrifice bunt, moved Engram and Alamprese before a Capitini single to center field cleared her teammates of the bases and wrapped up the fourth inning with six runs on four hits, giving the Wildcats the eight-plus run-rule advantage with a 10-0 lead.
The final inning and half remained scoreless between both teams as B-CU earned its fifth-straight game and fourth-straight MEAC match-up.
Sophomore Sabrina Anguiano (8-20) collected the 'Cats victory throwing all five innings, giving up four hits, walking two batters and striking out three as the Hacienda Heights, California native had yet to have a run scored on her during MEAC games.
As a team, B-CU posted ten hits during the victory, led by Ortega who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs.
Game Two
A slower start in game two began as both teams remained scoreless through the first two innings.
In the top of the third Capitini led off with a single to left field and moved to second after a Darby sac bunt. Shelley's single to center scored Capitini, as she advanced to second on the throw.
With two outs, Ortega's single to second scored Shelley from third before the inning ended with two B-CU runs on three hits.
The Wildcats added a third run to their lead in the top of the fifth before Anguiano's no-hitter was broken when NCCU's Casey Hargett singled to left field and Bri Hampton followed with a deep home run over the left field fence, scoring the first MEAC runs on Anguiano and cutting the B-CU lead to 3-2.
An Alamprese single opened the sixth before she scored when Capitini's hit to third base was dropped, extending the 'Cats lead to 4-2.
NCCU was unable to answer in the final two innings, giving B-CU it's fifth-straight MEAC victory with the 4-2 win.
Anguiano (9-20) threw all seven innings for B-CU giving up only three hits, two runs, no walks and striking out four NCCU batters.
The nine Wildcat hits were led by Ortega's second three-hit performance with 2 RBIs.
Season finale between B-CU and the Eagles wraps up Wednesday, April 8th at noon in Durham.
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