CARY, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman Softball ran its winning streak to three games on Saturday as the Wildcats claimed both games of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader sweep against North Carolina Central at Thomas Brooks Park. Bethune-Cookman opened the series with a 6-0 win, followed by an 11-3 decision in the nightcap.
 
GAME ONE: BCU 6, NCCU 0
Bethune-Cookman senior right-hander Sabrina Anguiano went the distance in the pitcher's circle in a two-hit, complete-game shutout on Saturday, helping the Wildcats collect a 6-0 victory over North Carolina Central in the opening game of a doubleheader between the two schools at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-26, 5-2 MEAC) opened the game's scoring with an Annie Bakenhus RBI double to left center, bringing around junior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Mariah Davis for the 1-0 Wildcats advantage.
 
The Cats extended the lead at 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning when freshman Taylor Sherritt delivered a run-scoring single to centerfield, driving across Kailey Richard who reached to lead off the frame with a dropped fly by North Carolina Central (8-23, 3-4 MEAC) centerfielder Aleyah Evans.
 
BCU would plate four runs in the top of the seventh to run away for the opening game victory.
 
Senior right fielder Kaitlin Alamprese pushed out her third home run of the season to lead off the inning, clearing a shot over the wall in straightaway center field to put BCU up, 3-0.
 
Following back-to-back singles from Davis and Bakenhus, respectfully, junior first baseman Iesha Waters registered her third round-tripper of the campaign with a three-run shot to left field.
 
That produced the final score of 6-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
 
Sabrina Anguiano, a native of Hacienda Heights, California, went the distance in the circle for the win, improving her record for the year at 8-7. She allowed just two hits and picked up five strikeouts in the gem of a performance.
 
The loss went to Dominique Wilson, dropping her at 7-12 for the year. She went the distance in the circle for the homestanding Eagles, being tagged for six runs (five earned) on nine hits, two walks and picking up five strikeouts of her own.
 
The Cats were paced at the plate by three players with two hits each in the form of Bakenhus, Davis and Sherritt. Waters led the game with her three RBIs on the homer, while Alamprese was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI with her leadoff homer in the seventh.
 
GAME TWO: BCU 11, NCCU 3
Three Bethune-Cookman players hit home runs, while freshman pitcher Mariah Estrada claimed a quality start in the circle, to help the visiting Wildcats claim an 11-3 victory over North Carolina Central in the second game of a MEAC doubleheader at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina.
 
After a rather pedestrian first inning for both teams, Bethune-Cookman (15-26, 6-2 MEAC) scored two runs in the top of the second to grab the early lead.
 
A dropped fly by Danyelle Noland of North Carolina Central (8-24, 3-5 MEAC) loaded the bases with one out following back-to-back hits from Kailey Richard and Brianna Sanders to start the frame. That allowed Yvonne Siordia to reach safely and registering a RBI, as Richard scored alongside Sanders on the ensuing play.
 
The lead grew to 3-0 for the Wildcats in the top of the third with freshman Ryan Jackson returning to the lineup and immediately delivering a leadoff homer down the left field line. For Jackson, it was her first at-bat in more than two weeks after sitting out with injury.
 
NCCU finally touched Mariah Estrada for a run in the home-half of the fourth inning when Eagles first baseman Jennifer Allison delivered a RBI single up the middle to plate teammate Dalika Wallace.
 
That cut into the BCU lead, 3-1.
 
However, the Wildcats struck for a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth to increase their lead, 5-1.
 
Kaitlin Alamprese homered for the second time on the day – picking up her fourth round-tripper of the year, scoring Sanders on the play.
 
In the top of the seventh, BCU ran out for six runs and extended the lead, 11-1.
 
The big blow in the Wildcats at-bat was Richard's three-run homer to right field that also scored Jacki Smith and Kaiya Epps-Lee. Later in the at-bat, Mariah Davis would record a RBI single to score Alamprese, while teammate Jackson also secured a RBI with Davis scoring earlier in the frame on an error.
 
In the bottom-half of the seventh, the Eagles scored two runs to close the score line at 11-3, as Wilson's two-run scoring double inside the bag at third plated teammates Lauren Sitterson and Noland, respectively.
 
The win went to Estrada, giving her a record of 4-5 on the campaign. The rookie right-hander worked six innings in the pitcher's circle, allowing just one run on six hits, a walk and a season-best seven strikeouts. Bailey Conner would work the seventh inning in a relief effort, allowing two runs on a hit, two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Meanwhile, the loss went to the Eagles Sitterson, dropping her to 1-7 for the year. She went the distance in the circle, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits, striking out two and walking four batters.
 
The BCU offense was led by Davis, Richard and Sanders with two hits each, including the third home run of the year for Richard. Added the homers from Alamprese and Jackson, and BCU tallied 11 hits in the contest.
 
The Wildcats will try to complete the series sweep on Sunday as the two teams meet back at Thomas Brooks Park at 10 a.m.
 
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