DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Taylor Sherritt and Iesha Waters each registered three hits on Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman Softball completed a series sweep of South Carolina State on the strength of a 9-3 victory in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at Sunnyland Park.
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening inning, Bethune-Cookman (20-27, 10-2 MEAC) scored seven unanswered runs across the second and third innings, respectively.
 
Back-to-back doubles from Kailey Richard and Brianna Sanders scored BCU's opening run in the second frame, while a RBI groundout from freshman Yvonne Siordia tied the game at 2-all as she plated Sanders from third. A play later, the homestanding Wildcats took a 3-2 lead courtesy a Taylor Sherritt RBI single up the middle to bring around catcher Kaitlin Alamprese.
 
BCU would increase the lead at 7-2, as the Wildcats scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning.
 
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Sanders knocked in a pair with a double to the wall in left center, scoring Iesha Waters and Ryan Jackson. On the next play, Alamprese collected a RBI sacrifice fly to right, driving across Richard from third. For Alamprese, the RBI was the 100th of her career with the Maroon and Gold.
 
Siordia plated her second RBI of the day via groundout when she scored Sanders with a slow roller to short.
 
The Wildcats would stretch the lead in the home-half of the fifth, plating a pair of runs to increase the advantage, 9-2.
 
After Sanders worked her way aboard with a walk – eventually advancing to second with a stolen base, the San Marcos, California sophomore was plated on the next play with an Alamprese double to left. Alamprese, one of three seniors on this year's BCU squad, would come around to score on a muffed throw by South Carolina State third baseman Unique Whitehurst. The throw from Bulldogs first baseman Jada Lake popped out of Whitehurst's glove to the fence, allowing Alamprese to scamper home.
 
The Bulldogs would close the game with a run in the top of the seventh, using a Jada Richardson RBI triple to the left field corner in order to cross Ragin Prunty for the 9-3 final score.
 
S.C. State (2-31, 2-7 MEAC) opened the game with its first lead of the weekend, scoring a pair in the top of the first inning.
 
Leadoff hitter Richardson began things with a double to left, scoring a play later off an error by the BCU infield attempting to field a sacrifice bunt laid down by She'Nautica Bates. The Bulldogs added their second run when Tamaya McQueary tallied a RBI groundout to Sanders at short, allowing Bates to score unearned on the play.
 
Senior right-hander Sabrina Anguiano picked up her second win of the series, moving her record to 11-7 for the year. She worked five innings in the circle, allowing two unearned runs on three hits scattered. She also walked one and fanned four. Classmate Bailey Conner worked the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits, adding a strikeout and two walks.
 
The loss went to SCSU starter Unique Whitehurst, dropping her to 0-1 for the year. She went two innings on the rubber, giving up three runs on five hits. Prunty finished the final four innings in the circle for the visiting Bulldogs.
 
BCU was led offensive by the Sherritt's perfect 3-for-3 showing at the dish, adding a RBI in the process. Not to be outdone was junior first baseman Waters with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, scoring a run as well. Alamprese and Sanders each chipped in with two hits apiece, respectfully.
 
The Wildcats will have two weeks off before completing the MEAC regular season against in-state opponent Florida A&M in a key conference series taking place at Sunnyland Park beginning with a doubleheader on April 29.
 
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