ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - After a 2-0 victory, forcing a game-two on Championship Saturday, the Bethune-Cookman softball team fell short during the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Title Game, dropping a 2-0 decision to cross-state rivals Florida A&M, as the Rattlers secured their second consecutive title Saturday, May 9 in Ormond Beach, Florida.
A battle on the mound took place during both games as Bethune-Cookman's Sabrina Anguiano and FAMU's Kenya Pereira each only allowed one earned run during the two game series and both teams combined eight runs apiece over the two-game span.
During game one, B-CU got out to an early 1-0 lead after senior Calesha Shelley scored from second on a throwing error from the Rattler's third baseman with two outs.
The Wildcats added their second run to the board when a RBI single to left center from Sophia Ortega scored rookie Mariah Davis from second.
After the early 2-0 lead for the 'Cats, FAMU was unable to challenge the B-CU lead as the Wildcats forced an “if necessary” Championship Title Game with the 2-0 victory.
Game two was a mirror image of the first game, at the hands of the Rattlers.
FAMU scored a solo run in the bottom of the second on a RBI single from Alyssa Weaver.
Back-to-back errors in the field for B-CU opened the third inning, allowing the Rattlers to use a sacrifice fly to push them ahead of the 'Cats 2-0 after three complete.
B-CU was unable to respond in the final four innings, as the FAMU earned its second-consective MEAC Championship with the 2-0 win.
The 2015 MEAC Championship Runner-Up finished the 2015 season 22-29 overall and 11-3 in MEAC play.
Calesha Shelley, Sabrina Anguiano, Sophia Ortega and Shamaria Engram were named to the 2015 MEAC All-Tournament team.
Shelley finished her career-finale tournament run going .474 at the plate during the six championship games. She collected nine hits, five runs and was a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases.
Anguiano threw all 38.0 innings for the Wildcats with a 0.37 ERA during the weekend. She struck out 11 batters during the six games while allowing only two earned runs and four walks.
Ortega finished .438 at the plate with seven hits, four RBIs, a double and four runs while Engram earned four hits for B-CU including a double, a triple, four RBIs and three runs.
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Calesha Shelley's 30 stolen bases this season marks the most in a year during her career, and moves her to second place all-time at Bethune-Cookman with 98 while her 73 hits this season also moves her into second place all-time at BCU in career hits with 249 behind B-CU Hall of Famer Amber Jackson.
