CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The second day of the annual Mary Nutter Classic is in the books for Bethune-Cookman Softball, with the Wildcats suffering a pair of setbacks to Texas (L, 1-9) and St. John's (L, 0-1), respectively, on Friday afternoon at the Big League Dreams Softball Complex in Cathedral City, California.
 
TEXAS 9, BCU 1
The Texas Longhorns plated four runs in the top of the fourth inning, racing out to an insurmountable advantage and eventually a 9-1 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Friday afternoon in the Wildcats opening game of day two action at the Mary Nutter Classic. The game took place at the Big League Dreams Softball Complex in Cathedral City, California.
 
Texas (10-3) scored four quick runs in the top-half of the fourth inning. The first two Longhorns singled and doubled, setting up right fielder Bekah Alcozer's three-run home run to straightaway center field to put Texas on top, 3-0. The Horns added a run later in the inning when Randel Leahy's RBI single to center scored reserve designated player Tuesday DerMargosian.
 
BCU (1-12) cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth as, for the second time this season, sophomore left fielder Annie Bakenhus stole home.
 
However, it would be Texas driving in another five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Alcozer drove in her fourth run of the game with a single through the left side to plate centerfielder Reagan Hathaway. And Jade Gortarez picked up a RBI single in the next at-bat to bring in Kaitlyn Slack for the 6-1 advantage. The Horns plated another three runs before the end of the inning to bring the score to the final 9-1 line.
 
Texas right-hander Paige von Sprecken picked up the win to up her record at 3-0 on the year. She tossed six innings in the circle, allowing an unearned run on four hits, a walk and registering seven strikeouts. The loss went to BCU senior Sabrina Anguiano who fell to 0-2 on the year. Anguiano was tagged for four runs on six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
The BCU offense was aided by Bakenhus' 1-for-2 showing off the bench, adding a run. Bryanna Campos was 1-for-1 at the dish off the bench for the Maroon and Gold.
 
ST. JOHN'S 1, BCU 0
A lone run in the top of the third inning proved to be the difference in the final game of the day for Bethune-Cookman at the Mary Nutter Classic, as the Wildcats fell to St. John's by a score of 1-0 at the Big League Dreams Softball Complex in Cathedral City, California.
 
A pitcher's duel between BCU starter Mariah Estrada and St. John's hurler Tori Free was broken up in the third inning by the Red Storm.
 
After St. John's (5-5) second baseman Hannah Anderson was hit by a pitch to begin the Red Storm at-bat, she appropriately stole second to put herself into scoring position. Leadoff hitter Lauren Zick then delivered a RBI double to left center, crossing Anderson for the eventual game-winning run.
 
With BCU (1-13) held in check by Free for much of the game, the Wildcats had their best opportunity to knot the game in the home-half of the sixth inning.
 
Junior first baseman Iesha Waters singled to start the BCU at-bat, while freshman Yvonne Siordia also singled in the frame. However, both runners would fail to score as Kaiya Epps-Lee pinch ran for Waters, but was caught attempting to swipe second.
 
The win was credited to Free who went the full seven innings, spreading out four hits and striking out eight batters with just a single walk allowed. In the process, she earned her first win of the year, improving to 1-3 on the campaign. Estrada took the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year herself. She was tagged for the one earned run on three hits, a walk and a strikeout.
 
The Wildcats offense was paced by four players with a hit apiece.
 
Bethune-Cookman concludes its participation in this year's Mary Nutter Classic on Saturday when the Wildcats face 14th-ranked Michigan at 6 p.m. (EST) back at the Big League Dreams Softball Complex.
 
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