DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Two big innings during game one and two against cross-state rivals, Florida A&M, proved to be enough for Bethune-Cookman softball as the Wildcats took two from the Rattlers (7-2, 6-4) on Saturday, May 2 at Sunnyland Park.
GAME ONE
After two complete scoreless innings to open the day, senior Calesha Shelley stepped to the plate for her 701th time as a Wildcat and collected a single to right field, advancing on the throw. A Mariah Davis sacrifice bunt, pushed Shelley to third before an RBI single from Sophia Ortega to right field put B-CU on the board, 1-0.
Melissa Berouty followed with the 'Cats third single to right in the inning before the FAMU coaching staff made a substitution in the field which was followed by a Rattler double play to escape the inning.
With the fourth inning scoreless between the two, FAMU's Denise Anderson used a two-run bomb to put the Rattlers ahead 2-1 heading into the bottom half of the fourth.
With a spark ignited for the Wildcats, Bryanna Campos led off, reaching first after an error from the Rattler short stop. Shelley followed with a bunt for a single, advancing after the FAMU defense attempted to pick off Campos at third. Davis followed with a single to left field, scoring Campos unearned and moving Shelley to third.
With no outs, a pop up bunt from Ortega allowed Davis to move to second.
Berouty followed with a single to right field, scoring Shelley and Davis, allowing her to reach second base after the throw home. Kaitlin Alamprese sent one high off the bat, leaving the FAMU fielders at a standstill, as she advanced to second on the confusion. With runners on second and third, Geena Capitini sent her second double of the contest to the wall, scoring Berouty and Alamprese and pushing the 'Cats ahead 6-2.
After a Shamaria Engram shot to short challenged the FAMU defense, allowing Engram and Capitini to reach first and third safely, a fly out gave the Rattlers two outs, before Campos sent one to center field, scoring Capitini and pushing the advantage to 7-2.
Both teams were held off the board in the sixth before the Wildcat defense sealed the deal in the top of the seventh as FAMU left two stranded and B-CU collected the 7-2 victory.
Wildcat sophomore Sabrina Anguiano threw a complete seven innings for B-CU allowing seven hits and two runs while walking three batters.
Shelley and Capitini led the 'Cats on the offensive end each collecting three hits during their four plate appearances.
Game Two
During the second inning of game two, the Rattlers struck first as they turned three hits into two runs taking the early 2-0 lead.
B-CU answered in the bottom of the third after Shelley bunted for a single with one out and stole second base, moving in to scoring position. Davis' ground out to second advanced Shelley to third as a throwing error by the pitcher during Ortega's at bat, allowed Shelley to score and Ortega to take second. A Berouty single up the middle scored Ortega and knotted the score at two before the 'Cats left one stranded to wrap up the third.
FAMU struck again in the top of the fourth pulling ahead 4-2 after four Rattler hits turned into two runs, leaving the bases loaded.
With a scoreless fifth inning, and down 4-2, the Wildcats turned up the offense as Capitini led off in the sixth with a single to left center. After an Engram pop up, Wanda Darby sent one back up the middle, moving Capitini into scoring position. Campos followed with a single of her own to center field, loading the bases and Alamprese shot a base hit through the right side, scoring Capitini and Darby on the hit, as Campos legged out three bases on the play, allowing three runs to score and Alamprese to take second base.
Shelley moved into fifth place on the B-CU all-time career triples list with a shot to left field, scoring Alamprese and pushing the Wildcat lead to 6-4 before the Rattlers made a change on the mound. Two outs after the pitching change ended the inning, as the Wildcats collected four runs on five hits, clinching the 6-4 lead heading into the final inning.
After two outs caught in the air to open the seventh, an error from Anguiano allowed the Rattlers a base runner before the sophomore hurler used a strike out to capture the game-two victory.
Anguiano threw another complete game for B-CU during game two, allowing ten hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk, while striking out two Rattlers.
Shelley and Berouty each collected two hits for the Wildcats during the victory, as Alamprese led the way with two RBIs.
Bethune-Cookman wraps up the 2015 regular season, Sunday May 3 during game three against Florida A&M. Prior to the noon first pitch, the Wildcats will honor seniors Breanna Chavez, Shamaria Engram and Calesha Shelley at approximately 11:40 a .m.
