BOCA RATON, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball finished the 2018 season opening weekend at the Florida Atlantic "First Pitch" Classic on Sunday with the Wildcats splitting a pair of contests at FAU Softball Stadium. BCU took down Northern Illinois, 5-1 in its opening game, but fell to the host Owls of FAU, 3-0 in the nightcap.
 
GAME ONE: BCU 5, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 1
Kailey Richard finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish and teammate Brianna Sanders added two hits of her own in order to propel Bethune-Cookman to a 5-1 win over Northern Illinois as part of the FAU "First Pitch" Classic on Sunday afternoon at FAU Softball Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-2) opened its scoring account in the home-half of the second inning.
 
With the bases full of Wildcats, sophomore shortstop Jacki Smith delivered a RBI single to short that drove across Kailey Richard from third, allowing BCU the 1-0 lead.
 
Northern Illinois (0-5) responded in the top of the next frame when Alaynie Woollard tripled to the wall in right, pushing across catcher Bekah Harnish to draw the game level at 1-1.
 
BCU answered in kind with a run in the bottom of the frame, using Richards' single through the left side that allowed first baseman Iesha Waters to score from third. Waters, a senior from Riverside, California, got on safely two plays earlier with her first triple of the weekend.
 
In the fifth inning, the Maroon and Gold plated three insurance runs to race out to the final 5-1 margin.
 
A two-out rally began with sophomore right fielder Ryan Jackson's triple to right, followed by Richards' third hit of the contest to plate the Chino Hills, California native for the 3-1 lead. Richards would later score courtesy a wild pitch from NIU's Tara Thacker for the 4-1 BCU advantage before Brianna Sanders bagged a RBI single to center field that scored Bryanna Campos from second.
 
Sophomore pitcher Mariah Estrada picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the year after throwing four innings in the circle. The Palm Desert, California native allowed just one run on three hits scattered, walked three and struck out two. Victoria Guzman would finish things off on the rubber with three innings pitched, allowing just two hits and striking out three batters.
 
The loss went to the Huskies' Mackenzie Bryan, dropping her record for the year to 0-2. She was tagged for two earned runs on five hits in three innings of work.
 
The Wildcats were led at the dish with Richards' three hits, two runs and two RBIs, followed by Sanders with two hits and a run batted in. Jacki Smith also registered a RBI on one hit.
 
GAME TWO: FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3, BCU 0
Florida Atlantic pitcher Tatum Buckley went the distance in the circle, picking up a complete-game shut out of Bethune-Cookman on the strength of an Owls' 3-0 decision in Sunday's final game of the FAU "First Pitch" Classic at FAU Softball Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida.
 
FAU (4-2) wasted little time getting to Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Destiny Enriquez, as the homestanding Owls struck for a pair of runs in the home-half of the opening inning.
 
Designated player Mia Olson delivered a two-run scoring single back up the middle to drive across teammates Emily Lochten and Madisyn Palmer. That gave FAU a 2-0 advantage early-on.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-3) head coach Laura Watten went to the bullpen in the third inning for freshman Victoria Guzman who finished out the game for the Wildcats.
 
However, FAU would tack on a run in the bottom of the sixth, as first baseman Jolie Duffner kicked things off with a double, and later scored off the bat of pinch hitter Alex Acevedo courtesy a sacrifice fly to right.
 
Tatum Buckley picked up the win for the Owls, keeping her record for the year clean at 3-0. She pitched all seven innings in the circle, allowing just one (1) hits, walking two and striking out one. Meanwhile, it was Enriquez accepting the loss for the Wildcats to drop the sophomore's record at 0-2 on the year.
 
BCU earned one hit in the game from first baseman Iesha Waters. Kailey Richard drew a pair of walks for the Maroon and Gold in the loss.
 
Bethune-Cookman is back in action Friday, Feb. 16, when the Wildcats travel to Lake Buena Vista, Florida for the Disney Diamond 9 Orange Blossom Classic. BCU opens the tournament against LIU Brooklyn and Kennesaw State on Friday afternoon.
 
Bethune-Cookman will take part in a weekend ending pair of games on Sunday against Northern Illinois and the host FAU Owls, respectfully. The first game against Northern Illinois is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., while the final game against the Owls is scheduled for a 3:45 p.m. first pitch.
 
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