DeLAND, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball dropped two games on Saturday against teams from Cornell (L, 9-2) and South Dakota (L, 20-12), respectfully, on the second day of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field. The Hatter Classic is hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Florida.
 
CORNELL 9, BCU 2
Cornell scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning on its way to a 9-2 decision over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday morning at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida. The game was the first of second day action of the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson University.
 
With Cornell (1-2) already leading 3-0 in the opening frame, catcher Olivia Lam tallied her first home run of the year with a three-run shot to left in order to push the Bears lead out to 6-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-17) fought back with a run in the top of the third inning.
 
After back-to-back singles from sophomore Annie Bakenhus and junior Mariah Davis, first baseman Iesha Waters would cross Bakenhus for the Wildcats' first run of the game on a groundout to shortstop.
 
However, Cornell would answer in the bottom-half of the inning with two runs, and increasing the lead at 8-1.
 
The Wildcats countered with another run in the top of the fourth, pulling the deficit to within 8-2.
 
Kaitlin Alamprese worked herself to second via a single and an error. She would eventually score following a single from Brianna Sanders and a RBI groundout from Kailey Richard.
 
Cornell produced the final 9-2 score in the bottom of the sixth using a Tori Togashi single to left in order to plate Kim Dolhon.
 
Bears pitcher Lisa Nelson recorded the win, working all seven innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. In the win, she evened her record for the year at 1-1.
 
The loss went to Sabrina Anguiano, dropping her to 0-5 for the season. In just two innings inside the circle, Anguiano allowed six runs on six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
Bakenhus led the Cats offensively with a pair of hits and a run scored.
 
SOUTH DAKOTA 20, BCU 12
South Dakota scored 10 runs in the top of the seventh inning Saturday afternoon, helping the Coyotes to a 20-12 victory over Bethune-Cookman as part of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida.
 
BCU (1-18) scored the game's first four runs in order to take the early lead, and set the tone for plenty of scoring throughout the contest for both squads, respectively.
 
Taylor Sherritt knocked a run-scoring double to left center that brought around Ryan Jackson for a run in the second inning, giving the Wildcats the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Cats made it 4-0 in the home-half of the third inning.
 
Jackson's sacrifice bunt plated Mariah Davis from third for the 2-0 lead. Then it was Sherritt's two-run single through the right side to score Iesha Waters and Kaitlin Alamprese.
 
South Dakota (7-9) would counter with a pair of runs in the top-half of the fourth inning, using a two-run double from third baseman Jamie Holscher.
 
BCU quickly responded with three more runs in the home-half of the frame.
 
Davis and shortstop Jacki Smith would perform a double steal, allowing Davis to score on the play for BCU.
 
That was immediately followed by Jackson's team-leading third home run of the game – this being a two-run shot clear the wall in left.
 
However, the Coyotes would score eight unanswered runs across the next two innings – including five in the fifth, to take a 10-7 lead.
 
The Cats made it 10-8 in the bottom of the sixth when Sherritt recorded her fourth RBI of the game with a single down the line in left to drive in Alamprese.
 
But it was the big seventh inning for South Dakota that drove the game out of reach for the Cats.
 
The Coyotes would send 13 batters to the plate and score 10 runs, running out to an insurmountable 20-8 advantage.
 
BCU clawed back with four runs in the home-half of the frame as Alamprese delivered her first career grand slam with a shot to deep left. For the Chino, California native, it was also her first home run of the 2017 campaign.
 
Megan Greene collected the win for the Coyotes out of the bullpen, as she worked 1.2 innings, allowing an unearned run on one hit, a walk and a strikeout. Ally Wiegand posted the save with 1.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and two strikeouts.
 
Destiny Enriquez (0-9) accepted the loss for the Wildcats. She worked 1.2 innings of relief effort, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
 
The Maroon and Gold was led offensively by three players with three hits apiece. Jackson finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with three runs and three RBIs. Sherritt was 3-for-4 with a game-high matching four RBIs. And it was Davis posting a 3-for-5 afternoon from the leadoff spot, adding three runs.
 
The Wildcats conclude the Hatter Classic on Sunday when facing Cornell at 10 a.m.
 
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