CLERMONT, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball opened the 2016 season with a pair of wins Friday, defeating Morgan State (13-5) and Liberty (8-0) at Legends Way Field, as part of the National Collegiate Softball Invitational hosted by PFX Athletics in Clermont, Florida.
B-CU 13, MORGAN STATE 5 (5 inn.)
Brianna Sanders went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and teammates Wanda Darby, Annie Bakenhus and Iesha Waters each tallied a pair of hits to lead the Wildcats to a 13-5 win over Morgan State in the opening game for B-CU at the National Collegiate Softball Invitational at Legends Way Field.
After falling behind 3-0 in the opening inning, B-CU (1-0) struck for a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.
Shortstop Brianna Sanders laced a single to third base to begin the at-bat, followed by catcher Kaitlin Alamprese drawing a walk to put pressure on the Bears early-on. Bryanna Campos' sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, allowing Wanda Darby to register a RBI single up the middle two batters later.
Alamprese would score three pitches later on a wild pitch by the Bears' starter Amy Begg, pulling the Cats to within 3-2.
Neither starter for the Wildcats or Bears would collect a decision in the game.
Morgan State (0-2) answered in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs off B-CU starter Sabrina Anguiano.
After Audrianna Alvarez began the at-bat with a single, leadoff hitter Damali Young reached on a B-CU error. Centerfielder Giselle Alvarez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for catcher Korynna Lara to knock in two runs courtesy a RBI single to center.
That stretched the Bears lead back out to three, 5-2.
Bethune-Cookman would get to MSU reliever Erica Hawkins in the fourth inning, plating five runs in the top-half of the frame.
Mariah Davis singled to load the bases with just one out, bringing up left fielder Annie Bakenhus to lay down a RBI bunt single that scored designated player Kailey Richard from third. Waters followed with a single to center, while she advanced to second on an error charged to MSU's Alvarez in center field. Scoring on the play for the Wildcats was Bakenhus, Davis and Darby, advancing B-CU in front, 6-5.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Morgan State went to the bullpen again in the fifth, using its third pitcher of the game. This time, it was Victoria Propst tossing the final inning of the game for the Bears.
Davis would collect a RBI with an error charged to the MSU infield, pushing across Campos who was charging down the third base line on the hit to second base. Bakenhus followed a batter later with a two-run single to center, plating Richard and Darby for the 9-5 B-CU advantage.
Waters tallied a RBI single up the middle crossing Davis, and Sanders drove in a pair with a two-run single shot back up the middle, giving B-CU the 13-5 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
B-CU reliever Deidra Genera sat the Bears down in order, picking up her first win of the year and putting the Wildcats at 1-0 on the weekend. Genera finished the game with 2.2 innings tossed, allowing just three hits and striking out two. Anguiano had a no-decision in 2.1 innings of work, allowing all five MSU runs, but just three earned, adding three strikeouts and a walk.
The loss went to MSU reliever Hawkins who fell to 0-1 on the year. She allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and fanned two with two walks allowed.
The Bears were led offensively by second baseman Danielle PitPit with two hits and a run scored, as well as Audrianna Alvarez bagging three hits and a run scored.
B-CU was led by Sanders' 3-for-4 showing at the dish, adding two RBI and a run scored.
B-CU 8, LIBERTY 0 (5 inn.)
Deidra Genera went the distance in the circle for Bethune-Cookman, collecting her first career shutout as the Wildcats downed Liberty, 8-0 in five innings at Legends Way Field in the second game of the day for the Maroon and Gold as part of the National Collegiate Softball Invitational.
B-CU (2-0) wasted little time getting to Liberty starting pitcher Chandler Ball. The redshirt senior from Georgia took some time to settle down in the circle, allowing the Wildcats, serving as the home team on the scoreboard, to take advantage right away.
Centerfielder Mariah Davis worked her way into scoring position as the leadoff hitter, drawing a walk and using a wild pitch to move to second. Iesha Waters then singled to third with a rocket down the line, driving in Davis and moving Annie Bakenhus to third. Bakenhus would score a play later on a throwing error charged to the Flames' Ball, pushing the B-CU lead to 2-0. It would swell to 3-0 when Kaitlin Alamprese lined a RBI groundout to the pitcher, bringing in Waters from third.
The Wildcats would add another trio of runs in the home-half of the second inning.
Waters' two-run scoring double past the glove of Jaclyn Amader, laying out for the attempted catch, brought around Bakenhus and Davis for the 5-0 B-CU advantage. Shortstop Brianna Sanders followed with a RBI single up the middle, scoring Waters from second and giving B-CU the lead, 6-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bethune-Cookman would extend the lead even further.
Alamprese worked her way to third courtesy a dropped fly ball by Liberty right fielder Jasmeen Click.
After second baseman Sophia Ortega drew a walk, head coach Laura Watten instituted a double steal, as Ortega swiped second and Alamprese stole home.
That pushed B-CU's lead up to 7-0.
Two batters later, Davis stepped to the plate and recorded a fielder's choice RBI to score Ortega from third, giving the Cats the 8-0 win in a run-rule decision – the second of the day for the Wildcats.
Genera registered the win in the circle, moving her record to 2-0 on the year. She tossed all five innings, allowing five hits and striking out eight in the shutout victory.
Meanwhile, Ball took the loss in her first start of the season for the Flames. She was tagged for eight runs (five earned) on six hits, striking out six and walking four.
Bakenhus led the Cats at the plate, posting a perfect 2-for-2 day and scoring twice. Waters also tallied a pair of his, finishing the night 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Sanders and Richard also netted a hit each in the game.
Liberty was led by catcher Alexia Taylor with two hits, and teammates Tori Zavodny, Kassidy McCoy and Deidra See all had a hit each for the Flames.
For B-CU, defense was the highlight of the night, as Davis and Wanda Darby each had amazing catches, both robbing second baseman Rylee Reynolds from certain extra-base hits.
Bethune-Cookman steps back onto the field Saturday at 11 a.m., taking on Chattanooga in the third of five games scheduled on the weekend at the National Collegiate Softball Invitational back inside Legends Way Field.
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