PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Bethune-Cookman Softball dropped a pair of games on the opening day of the Mary Nutter Classic on Thursday, falling in games to seventh-ranked LSU and Stanford, respectfully, at the Building Dreams Softball Complex in Cathedral City, California. The suburb of Palm Springs is serving as host of the Mary Nutter classic for the annual event.
 
#7 LSU 12, BCU 1
No. 7 LSU scored nine runs in the bottom of the second inning in order to break open a tight game and race to a 12-1 win over Bethune-Cookman on the opening day of the Mary Nutter Classic at the BLD Complex (Yankee Field) in Palm Springs, California. The game ended with a run-rule in the fifth inning.
 
Leading 1-0 entering the home-half of the second inning, LSU (11-1) scored nine runs in the frame in order to sprint out to an insurmountable lead for the Tigers.
 
The LSU at-bat included a two-run scoring double by designated hitter Sydney Springfield, as well as a two-run homer to left field by third baseman Shemiah Sanchez off BCU reliever Mariah Estrada (La Quinta, Calif.).
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-10) got on the board in the top-half of the third inning when sophomore Annie Bakenhus (Yucaipa, Calif.) doubled to left, allowing Jacki Smith (Mount Vernon, Wash.) to score from first on the play.
 
That cut into the deficit, 10-1.
 
The Tigers added a pair of runs in the fourth inning, one coming by way of a Constance Quinn triple to right field that plated Amber Serrett who doubled to kick-off the LSU at-bat.
 
The win went to LSU's Maribeth Gorsuch (1-1) as she worked five innings, allowing a single run on three hits with five strikeouts. The loss went to BCU starter Destiny Enriquez (0-7), allowing seven runs on seven hits, a walk and picking up a pair of strikeouts.
 
LSU was led offensively by five players with multiple-hit games, including Springfield's 2-for-2 showing with a run and three RBIs. BCU was led by Smith with a 1-for-2 effort at the plate, also scoring a run for the Wildcats.
 
STANFORD 4, BCU 3 (8 innings)
Kristina Inouye's RBI single to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Stanford to walk off with a 4-3 victory in extra innings over Bethune-Cookman in the final game of day one action at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, California.
 
After Stanford (8-3) jumped on the board first with a run in the home-half of the second inning, Bethune-Cookman (1-11) appropriately responded in the top-half of the third frame with three runs of its own to give the Wildcats their first lead of the day.
 
Sasha Killings (Puyallup, Wash.) began things with a single to right field for the Wildcats, before she eventually worked her way to third base two batters later. The BCU left fielder eventually scored when first baseman Iesha Waters (Riverside, Calif.) reached safely at first on an error charged to Stanford's Inouye at second base.
 
With the score tied at 1-all, the Maroon and Gold stepped in front when Waters – one of 15 Wildcats making a return to the west coast for "home" games in their home state of California, scored courtesy a throwing error charged to the Cardinal. It was the second error for Stanford that allowed BCU to score a run, respectfully.
 
BCU upped its lead to 3-1 when Kaitlin Alamprese (Chino, Calif.) singled past Stanford first baseman Lauren Wenger, crossing Brianna Sanders (San Marcos, Calif.) for the run from third.
 
However, Stanford would close the gap with a run in the bottom of the fifth, lowering the Cardinal margin at 3-2, when shortstop Kylie Sorenson collected a sacrifice fly to deep left field. That pop out allowed leadoff hitter Teaghan Cowles to score from third.
 
Stanford later tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when the Cardinal collected its second sac fly of the game, this time courtesy the bat of third baseman Whitney Burks, who hit far enough for Cowles to scamper home for the second time in the game, knotting the game at 3-3 with two outs.
 
That set the stage for the game-winning hit from Inouye, who registered the winning single in the first at-bat for the Cardinal, as the runner was placed at second via international rules.
 
The win went to Stanford starter Nikke Bauer (4-1), picking up her fourth win of the season with eight complete innings pitched. She allowed three unearned runs on nine hits for the Wildcats, and striking out one batter.
 
The loss went to BCU starter Sabrina Anguiano (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) in her first action of the year, as the All-MEAC performer returned to action from an off-season injury. Anguiano worked seven innings for the Maroon and Gold, allowing four runs (two earned) on 11 hits and posting a pair of strikeouts.
 
The BCU offense was led by Yvonne Siordia (Murrieta, Calif.) with a 2-for-4 effort at the dish, while seven other Cats also collected hits. Stanford was led by Cowles picking up three hits and scoring two runs in the win.
 
Bethune-Cookman gets back to action Friday when the Wildcats take on Texas at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
 
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