Box Score DeLAND, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball dropped a thriller in the seventh inning to Cornell, but bounced back quickly to take a 12-3 decision from Tennessee State on Friday at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida. The games were a part of the 2018 Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson.
 
CORNELL 5, BCU 3
Cornell first baseman Bridgette Rooney hit her first collegiate grand slam on Friday helping Cornell erase a 2-1 deficit in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 5-3 in the Wildcats' opening game of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida.
 
Cornell (1-0) took a 1-0 lead to begin the game's scoring in the top of the second inning when Erin Rockstroh's double down the left field line scored Tori Togashi.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-11) got onto the board in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Sophomore right fielder Ryan Jackson singled and stole second to work her way into scoring position with one away for the Wildcats. Senior center fielder Mariah Davis tripled to left field in order to score Jackson. Davis scored a play later on a sacrifice fly by Kailey Richard.
 
With two outs in the top of the seventh and BCU leading 2-1, Cornell had the bases loaded until Rooney cleared them with one swing to put the Big Red in front on Rooney's first career grand slam. The Big Red led 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman would pull a run back when Taylor Sherritt delivered a run-scoring single to right in order to plate senior first baseman Iesha Waters.
 
The win went to Katie Lew (1-0) as she worked a complete game with three runs allowed on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts. The loss was tagged onto freshman Victoria Guzman (2-5) as she threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on two hits, a walk and a strikeout.
 
The BCU offense was led at the plate by Jackson from the leadoff spot as the Chino Hills, California native recorded a 3-for-4 effort with a run scored. Alexis Bermudez added a 2-for-3 game at the dish for the Maroon and Gold.
 
BCU 12, TENNESSEE STATE 3
Mariah Davis and Iesha Waters each tallied a pair of hits as Bethune-Cookman collected a 12-3 win over Tennessee State in the Wildcats' second game of the day at Patricia Wilson Field as part of the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (6-11) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
 
Mariah Davis posted a two-out single to left center, allowing team captain Iesha Waters to plate Davis and Bryanna Campos – who was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat of the inning for the Cats, with her double to left center field.
 
Tennessee State (0-11) cut into the deficit with a run in the home-half of the frame when pinch runner Ariel Johnson stole home on a double steal for the Tigers.
 
BCU then struck for a six-run fourth inning to increase its lead, 8-1.
 
Campos delivered a two-run scoring single to left that scored Taylor Sherritt and Brianna Sanders. Later, BCU had the bases loaded before Kaiya Epps-Lee scored on a passed ball by TSU catcher Emma Colegrove. The Cats would add another two runs when Waters singled to left, plating Davis and Ryan Jackson. Campos also scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the fifth, BCU struck for another four runs.
 
Brianna Sanders began the inning with a walk, but she would then steal second, advance to third on a throwing error by the TSU catcher, and then come around to score on the same play.
 
Sasha Killings would score on the second passed ball of the day for the Tigers as she scampered in from third, followed by Jacki Smith stealing home on a double steal alongside Jackson. Jackson would later score from third on a wild pitch.
 
The win went to Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Mariah Estrada, keeping her record for the year clean at 2-0. She threw four innings, allowing three runs on six hits, three walks and picking up three strikeouts. Tennessee State's Lauren Powell (0-8) took the loss in 3.1 innings of work in the circle, giving up six runs on six hits and a strikeout.
 
The Wildcats offense used mirror 2-for-3 efforts from Davis and Waters, while the latter added four RBIs. Campos finished 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs driven in and a pair of runs scored herself.
 
Bethune-Cookman continues play in the Hatter Classic on Saturday as the Wildcats take on Drexel and Cornell, respectfully.
 
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