LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball dropped a 10-5 decision on Saturday afternoon to Stetson, while later falling in the nightcap against George Washington, 7-1 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The games were part of the Disney Diamond 9 Orange Blossom Classic.
 
STETSON 10, BCU 5
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Bethune-Cookman (1-7) shortstop Brianna Sanders punched out her first home run of the year with a shot to deep left. That was followed in the top of the fifth with an Iesha Waters RBI single to center field, allowing Mariah Davis to score from second after the junior outfielder singled and stole second to get herself into scoring position.
 
That brought the Wildcats to within 3-2.
 
Stetson (7-1) countered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to widen the lead, 8-2.
 
BCU pulled a run back in the top of the sixth when Kaitlin Alamprese doubled to start off the inning, only to score two batters later off an RBI sacrifice fly from second baseman Bryanna Campos. That narrowed the score to 8-3.
 
After the Hatters added a pair of runs in the home-half of the sixth, BCU registered two runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Waters began a two-out rally with a single through the left side, followed by back-to-back singles from teammates Sanders and Yvonne Siordia. It was Siordia's single to right center field that plated Taylor Sherritt., as well as another RBI single from Alamprese that scored Sanders.
 
The win went to Stetson pitcher Tori Perkins who went all seven innings for the Hatters. She allowed five runs on 12 hits and one walk, bumping her record for the year to 5-1.
 
Destiny Enriquez took the loss to fall to 0-5 on the year, as the freshman worked four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
GEORGE WASHINGTON 7, BCU 1
The Bethune-Cookman bats were held in check in the second of two games on Saturday evening, as the Wildcats fell to George Washington, 7-1 at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The game was part of the Disney Diamond 9 Orange Blossom Classic.
 
GW (2-1) jumped on the board first in the top-half of the second inning.
 
Second baseman Rochelle Draper's single to the gap in right center brought in third baseman Paige Kovalsky for the game's opening run.
 
GW would add to the lead in the fifth as the team batted around with five runs coming across to stretch the advantage at 6-0. The inning was highlighted by GW's Jenna Cone who registered her first home run of the year with a two-run shot to straight away center that also scored Kovalsky after she tripled to start the at-bat.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-8) would earn its lone run of the game in the home-half of the fourth.
 
After Brianna Sanders singled to start the at-bat, Kaitlin Alamprese moved her up to second on a single of her own. That set the table for freshman Ryan Jackson to stroke a RBI single through the left side to score Sanders, bringing the BCU deficit down to 6-1.
 
GW added an insurance run in the seventh when designated player Elena Shelepak tripled off the wall in right center, pushing across Kovalsky for her third run of the game. That brought the score to the final 7-1 decision in favor of George Washington.
 
The win went to GW's Sarah Costlow out of the bullpen, bumping her record to 2-0 on the year. She worked five innings out of the bullpen, allowing a run on six hits with a strikeout and a walk. Meanwhile, Mariah Estrada suffered her second loss of the year for BCU to fall to 1-2 in a complete-game effort.
 
The Wildcats conclude the weekend event Sunday against Providence with first pitch being scheduled for 10 a.m., back at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.
 
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