CLERMONT, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball bounced back from an opening defeat to Chattanooga (L, 2-1), defeating Akron (W, 3-2) in the finale on Saturday at Legends Way Field, on the second day of the 2016 National Collegiate Softball Invitational hosted by PFX Athletics in Clermont, Florida.
CHATTANOOGA 2, B-CU 1
A two-run second inning proved to be the deciding factor on Saturday morning, as Chattanooga held off a resilient Bethune-Cookman squad, 2-1 at Legends Way Field on the second day of the 2016 National Collegiate Softball Invitational hosted by PFX Athletics in Clermont, Florida.
After an error and a hit batter loaded the bases for Chattanooga (3-0), centerfielder Sam Taylor delivered a RBI single to left field. That allowed the Mocs third baseman Katie Corum to trot in from third, giving her team the 1-0 advantage with one out. A fielder's choice RBI from shortstop Alyssa Taylor scored the all-important second run, giving the Mocs a 2-0 lead after two innings of play.
Bethune-Cookman (2-1) starting pitcher Sabrina Anguiano, an all-conference pitcher from a season ago within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, settled in after that, allowing just two hits over the remaining three innings for which she stood in the circle.
The Wildcats found it tough to get to the Mocs starter Cori Jennings, until the fourth inning.
A two-out rally started in the home-half of the frame with first baseman Iesha Waters registering a double to the left centerfield wall, allowing shortstop Brianna Sanders to drive her in with a triple to right field.
That cut into the Mocs lead, 2-1.
Second baseman Sophia Ortega drew a walk in the next at-bat, but was caught stealing just two pitches later to end the frame.
The Wildcats threatened again in the fifth, putting runners at the corners. But Jennings got Mariah Davis to rollover on a pitch, as she grounded out to short to end the side.
The Cats went to freshman pitcher Deidra Genera in the sixth and seventh, as the Norwalk, California native allowed just a single hit in the final two frames.
The cats were unable to get anything going in the sixth and seventh themselves, as Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-1 on the weekend.
The win went to Jennings, upping her record for the year at 2-0. She tossed all seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and struck out six with two walks.
Anguiano was tagged with the loss, falling to 0-1 on the campaign, after earning a no-decision in her previous start on Friday against Morgan State. She allowed two runs (one earned) on just four hits and fanned three batters against just a single walk.
B-CU was led offensively by Sanders' 2-for-3 morning, adding a run scored. She was followed by designated player Kailey Richard with an equally impressive 2-for-3 showing at the dish.
B-CU 3, AKRON 2
Freshman pitcher Deidra Genera tossed a complete game in the circle, and teammate Kaitlin Alamprese was 3-for-4 at the dish, allowing Bethune-Cookman to hold off Akron, 3-2 in the second game of the day for the Wildcats at Legends Way Field, on the second day of the 2016 National Collegiate Softball Invitational hosted by PFX Athletics in Clermont, Florida.
Bethune-Cookman (3-1) put the pressure on Akron early-on, with the opening two innings proving to be the difference.
Freshman left fielder Annie Bakenhus singled and advanced to second on a throwing error charged to Akron (0-4) with one out. She would score a player later, stealing third and rounding the bag to score on a throwing error charged to the Zips catcher Alyssa Nicholas trying to pick off Bakenhus at third.
That allowed B-CU the 1-0 lead after the top-half of the first frame.
The Cats would widen the lead in the top-half of the second inning.
Catcher Kaitlin Alamprese picked up her first hit of the season with a single – one of three on the day for the junior from Chico, California. Senior right fielder Wanda Darby then singled, setting up third baseman Bryanna Campos to drive in both runners with a two-run scoring double to left field.
Bethune-Cookman would lead 3-0 after two innings in the books.
Genera was almost untouchable for the Wildcats early-on in the circle, cruising through the first two innings with just a single hit allowed.
However, the Zips finally got to Genera in the sixth.
A Zips two-out rally began with second baseman Anna Tarpley singling to right and advancing to second on an error charged to the B-CU outfield. Nicholas plated Tarpley two batters later, cutting the Maroon and Gold lead, 3-1.
Akron added a run in the seventh when first baseman Kelly Hysong delivered a two-out, run-scoring triple to right field, bringing her team to within 3-2.
Genera would get designated player Gabrielle Fredericks to hit a sharp grounder to Campos at third, as the Pico Rivera, California sophomore scooped the ball and made the toss to first to close out the win.
With the win, Genera improved to 3-0 for the season, working all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking just one batter.
The loss went to Nicole Best, dropping her to 0-1 on the year as she went the complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits, with two strikeouts and one walk.
The B-CU offense was paced by Alamprese with three hits in four trips, adding a run scored. Campos was 2-for-3 with two RBI. And it was Bakenhus with two hits and a run scored herself.
The Wildcats finish their stint at the 2016 National Collegiate Softball Invitational on Sunday, as B-CU faces Chattanooga in a rematch of Saturday's opener. The teams will square off at 10 a.m.
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