ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Kailey Richard's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning allowed Bethune-Cookman a 2-1 win over Florida A&M, advancing the Wildcats to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament (MEAC) championship series on Friday afternoon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
Bethune-Cookman (24-31) used back-to-back one-out singles from first baseman Iesha Waters and Ryan Jackson, the 2017 MEAC Rookie and Player of the Year, in order to put a runner in scoring position with the game knotted at 1-all in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Wildcats second baseman Kailey Richard delivered the game-winning RBI that scored Waters from second with a single to deep left.
 
That put the Wildcats up, 2-1.
 
Florida A&M (20-30-1) tied the game at 1-1 in the home-half of the sixth when first baseman Toni Anderson registered her 12th home run of the year with a solo shot to right centerfield.
 
BCU stepped in front first with a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Jackson recorded her league-leading 14th home run of the year with a leadoff homer to straightaway centerfield.
 
The Rattlers threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning with singles from Anderson and Alexis Day, respectfully, to put two players on with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt from Taylor Rosier moved both runners into scoring position, before BCU starting pitcher Sabrina Anguiano pitcher her way out of the jam.


The win went to Anguiano in the circle for the Cats, as the Hacienda Heights, California native went the distance in the circle to up her record at 14-10 for the year. She allowed just the one home run, scattered six hits and walked one batter against three strikeouts.
 
Meanwhile, FAMU starting pitcher Kenya Pereira accepted the loss to fall to 9-11 for the year. She went all eight innings in the circle for the Rattlers, allowing two runs on nine hits, a walk and a strikeout.
 
FAMU was led at the plate by Anderson with a 2-for-3 performance, including the home run. Day would finish the day 2-fof-4.
 
BCU was paced offensively by Jackson's perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, adding the home run in order to match Amber Jackson for the most home runs in a single season.
 
Bethune-Cookman will play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament title game on Saturday at 1 p.m. The opponent for the game will be diced later this evening.
 
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