CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Ryan Jackson tallied her second home run of the year for Bethune-Cookman on Saturday evening, but it was not enough as No. 14 Michigan erupted for six runs in the third inning to sprint past the Wildcats, 13-4 in non-conference softball action at the Big League Dreams Softball Complex. The game was a part of the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California.
 
After falling behind 2-0 heading into the bottom of the opening frame, Bethune-Cookman (1-14) was able to take a brief lead with three runs in the home-half of the inning.
 
With Brianna Sanders and Yvonne Siordia each walking to put two players aboard with two outs, freshman right fielder Ryan Jackson unloaded a three-run home run to straightaway center field to put the Wildcats on top, 3-2. For Jackson, a native of Chino Hills, California, the home run was her second of the season.
 
However, 14th-ranked Michigan (8-4) would counter with three runs in top of the second to reclaim the lead, 5-3.
 
The Wolverines would score another six runs to widen the lead at 11-3 in the top of the third inning, sparked by a leadoff home run from catcher/designated player Amanda Vargas – her second of the season. After Michigan plated another three runs on an Aidan Falk double to right field that helped cross Tera Blanco, Kelly Christner and leadoff hitter Natalie Peters, Bethune-Cookman veteran head coach Laura Watten went to the bullpen for rookie Mariah Estrada in relief of classmate Destiny Enriquez.
 
Enriquez was already on in relief of starter Sabrina Anguiano, a Preseason All-MEAC senior from Hacienda Heights, California, who went just 1.2 innings before being switched after being hit for five runs on seven hits and collecting a strikeout. Enriquez, a freshman from Norwalk, California, went just an inning in her relief efforts, being hit four times and allowing six runs and two walks.
 
BCU would claw back a run in the home-half of the fourth inning.
 
After senior Kaitlin Alamprese of Chino, California found the gap up the middle with a single, junior Bryanna Campos worked her way aboard with a base on balls. Each runner advanced a base with the help of a Jacki Smith groundout, allowing Yucaipa, California product Annie Bakenhus to register a RBI single through the left side past the glove of Michigan third baseman Lindsay Montemarano to plate Alamprese and cut the deficit at 11-4.
 
The Wolverines added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth to produce the run-rule outcome of 13-4.
 
Michigan's Tera Blanco collected the win in the pitcher's circle to advance her record out to 5-1 for the year. She worked the full five innings in the starting role, giving up four runs on three hits, three walks and tallying four strikeouts.
 
The loss was tacked to BCU's Anguiano who fell to 0-3 for the year. Out of the bullpen, Estrada allowed two runs on two hits in tossing the final 2.1 innings on the rubber.
 
Michigan was led at the dish by shortstop Abby Ramirez and Falk with three hits each, while Falk also supplied a game-high five RBIs. Blanco would collect her first home run of the year with a 1-for-1 day as well, adding three RBIs and two runs.
 
The Wildcats offense was led by three players with a hit apiece, including the three-run scoring single from Jackson.
 
Bethune-Cookman gets back to action March 3, as the Wildcats take on LIU Brooklyn in the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Florida.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Softball on Twitter (@BCUSoftball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).