GREENSBORO, N.C. - Bethune-Cookman earned its third-straight victory as the Wildcats (8-24, 3-3 MEAC) completed the series sweep over the North Carolina A&T Aggies (13-20, 2-4 MEAC) with a 12-2 victory Sunday, April 3 at the Aggie Softball Complex.
It was all B-CU during the series finale as sophomore Iesha Waters got things going in the top of the first with a single to center field with two outs.
Rookie Brianna Sanders followed suit with a double to left field, scoring Waters, putting the Wildcats on the board early with two outs.
Sophia Ortega collected her season-first homer with a bomb over the right field fence, bring the first inning run total to three before heading into the bottom of the inning.
With one out and runners on first and second, an Aggie ground ball to second base turned into a B-CU double play, as the Wildcats escaped the inning with the 3-0 lead.
With one out in the top of the second, sophomore Bryanna Campos walked giving the 'Cats their first base runner of the inning before Wanda Darby was hit by a pitch, putting two on.
Both runners advanced on a passed ball, followed by an Annie Bakenhus single to third, loading the bases.
A fielding error by the Aggie's first basemen scored Campos during Mariah Davis' at bat before Waters cleared the bases with her second hit of the game sending a 3-RBI double to center field.
B-CU finished the top of the second with two hits, four runs and one left on, taking the early 7-0 lead.
A lone hit for NCAT in the bottom of the second was not enough to get anything going, before the Aggies made a change on the mound heading into the top of the third.
Kailey Richard led off for the Wildcats in the third doubling to right field and reaching third on a wild pitch.
Melissa Berouty was walked before Richard scored on a passed by, followed by Campos reaching first on drop third strike, allowing Berouty to score the second run of the inning.
The Wildcat's third run in the third came from Bakenhus who crossed the plate after an Aggie passed ball, giving the 'Cats the 10-0 run after two and a half innings.
Another single hit inning for NCAT in the bottom half of the third.
Sanders scored unearned for B-CU in the fourth, before a Berouty RBI single to left scored Richard giving the Wildcats a 12-0 lead, leaving two stranded.
Rookie Deidra Genera headed to the mound for B-CU in the bottom of the fourth, allowing two Aggie hits and one run, putting NCAT on the board 12-1 after four.
It was a 1-2-3 inning for the Wildcats in the top of the fifth, three outs away from a run-rule victory.
Two doubles and a walk for the Aggies against Genera, gave NCAT its second run of the day before Bailey Conner headed to the circle for B-CU, escaping the inning after putting two on with back-to-back strikeouts.
Anguiano (3-11) earned the Wildcat victory after only allowing two hits during her three innings on the mound.
Bethune-Cookman returns to action on Wednesday, April 6 during a midweek, non-conference contest at USF in Tampa, Florida. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.