DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman (18-27, 11-3 MEAC) softball opens 2015 postseason action after finishing the regular-season No. 2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division. The Wildcats are slated to take on No.3N Hampton (19-24, 11-6 MEAC), Thursday May 7 at 1:30 p.m. in Ormond Beach, Florida at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Wildcat Facts
Senior Calesha Shelley who was recently named to the 2015 All-MEAC First Team, leads the team at the plate with a .416 season batting average while posting a conference second-best .574 during MEAC games and 17-for-18 stolen bases in league competition. Trailing Shelley is All-MEAC Second Team member Mariah Davis, the rookie boosts a .329 overall batting average.
On the mound for B-CU, sophomore Sabrina Anguiano (12-23, 8-3 MEAC), who was named the 2015 MEAC Pitcher of the Year and a member of the 2015 All-MEAC First Team, currently leads the league with a 2.21 ERA during MEAC match-ups. During her 41 appearances, she has made 35 starts, struck out 92 batters, while walking 73.
B-CU in MEAC Tournament
Over the past 21 years the Wildcats have proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the league tournament posting a 64-31 record including eight conference tournament titles. During head coach Laura Watten's previous B-CU tenure, the 'Cats finished 39-9 during MEAC tournament games and earned five championship titles.
Wildcats vs. HU
B-CU holds the series advantage over the Pirates with a 17-5 all-time record. The two teams last met a season ago during the second round of the MEAC tournament (May 8, 2014) where the Wildcats collected the 9-1 victory.
During the 2015 season B-CU and HU have faced two common opponents, Jacksonville and North Carolina A&T. The Wildcats finished 4-1 against the two teams with a road split at the JU Invitational and a home sweep over NCAT, while the Pirates finished 2-2 dropping both games to Jacksonville and taking two from the Aggies on the road.
'Cats 2015 MEAC Honors
Sabrina Anguiano – 2015 MEAC Pitcher of the Year
Sabrina Anguiano – 2015 MEAC First-Team
Calesha Shelley – 2015 MEAC First-Team
Mariah Davis – 2015 MEAC Second-Team
Sophia Ortega – Player of the Week (Feb. 9)
Sabrina Anguiano – Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 9)
Nereyda Gutierrez – Rookie of the Week (Feb. 9)
Bailey Conner – Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 23)
Mariah Davis – Rookie of the Week (March 2)
Calesha Shelley – Player of the Week (April 6)
Sabrina Anguiano – Pitcher of the Week (April 6)
Mariah Davis – Rookie of the Week (April 6)
Sabrina Anguiano – Co-Pitcher of the Week (April 13)
Scouting the Pirates
First Team All-MEAC member Margaret Wilkins leads HU at the plate, posting a team-best .360 batting average with 50 hits during her 139 at bats while finishing the regular-season 11-for-14 in stolen bases. Junior first baseman Taylor McCoy who was named to the All-MEAC Second Team trails Wilkins at bat with a .359 average.
Freshman Allyson Babinsack (14-10), the only rookie on the 2015 All-MEAC First Team, leads HU on the mound with a 3.10 ERA during the season. During her 26 appearances she has made 20 starts, struck out 106 batters and walked 60. The Hampton, Virginia, native also boosts a team third-best batting average, finishing the regular-season .309 at the plate, totaling a team best four homers and 34 RBIs.
