CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – An early five-run deficit proved to be too much on Thursday evening as Bethune-Cookman fell to Oregon State, 11-2 in six innings at the Big League Dreams Complex as part of the 2018 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. For the Wildcats of BCU, the loss dropped them to 0-2 on the day in this year's annual west coast softball affair which features many of the nation's best teams.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-7) fell behind early-on as Oregon State struck for five runs in the first two innings.
 
The Wildcats would get on the board in the home-half of the second inning, using Iesha Waters' triple through the right side off Oregon State starting pitcher Mariah Mazon. That pushed across Brianna Sanders on the play, trimming the BCU deficit at 5-1.
 
The Maroon and Gold tacked on another run in the frame when freshman Alexis Bermudez recorded a sacrifice fly to right allowing Waters to race home safely on the play.
 
Bethune-Cookman trailed 5-2 after two innings of action.
 
However, Oregon State (9-4), receiving votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, would strike for its largest scoring output in the top of third.
 
The Beavers accounted for four runs in the inning, the big blow being third baseman Missy Nunes leadoff home run that pushed the lead out to 6-2. McKenna Arriola added a two-run scoring double that crossed pinch runner Stephanie Merwin and right fielder Michelle Sass. And it would be Chance Burden later scoring on an error charged to the BCU infield that made the score 9-2.
 
The run-rule would come into effect in the top of the sixth as Oregon State scored a pair of insurance runs.
 
Pinch hitter Paityn Willoughby's single brought around Sass, while Jessica Garcia's RBI single to shortstop scored the game-ending run in the form of Kayleen Shafer.
 
The win went to the Beavers' Mazon, evening her record for the year at 3-3. She worked a complete game in the pitcher's circle, allowing just the two runs in the second inning on five BCU hits and striking out a game-high six batters.
 
BCU sophomore-right-hander Destiny Enriquez accepted the loss in a starting role, dropping the California native down to 1-3 on the year. She toed the rubber most of the way, working 5.1 innings, being tagged for 11 runs (five earned) on 12 hits and walking three. Classmate and fellow Californian Mariah Estrada finished the final 0.2 innings in the circle with two hits allowed.
 
The BCU offense received hits from five different batters, including the RBI hit from Riverside, California native Waters. Mariah Davis took a single from her position at the top of the lineup, while shortstop Jacki Smith, catcher Kailey Richard, and second baseman Sanders all added a hit each for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Bethune-Cookman looks to bounce back Friday when the Wildcats take on Long Beach State back at the Big League Dreams Complex for the Maroon and Gold's third of five games in this year's Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).
 
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