GREENSBORO, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman Softball split a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader against North Carolina A&T on Friday afternoon at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex. BCU dropped the opener by a 6-5 decision before rebounding quickly to collect the nightcap victory, 4-2.
 
GAME ONE: N.C. A&T 6, BCU 5
North Carolina A&T scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete a 6-5 comeback win over visiting Bethune-Cookman on Friday afternoon in the opening game of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball series at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Bethune-Cookman (16-21, 2-2 MEAC) struck first in the top of the first inning when senior first baseman Iesha Waters came in to score unearned on a fielding error charged to the Aggies' Nijah McCray in centerfield. That allowed the visitors from Daytona Beach an early 1-0 lead.
 
North Carolina A&T (6-23, 3-1 MEAC) put three on the board in the home-half of the third inning.
 
A fielding error by Jacki Smith at short allowed Nathaly Pacheco to score unearned from third for the Aggies first run of the game. That was followed by a two-run single past Kailey Richard at second base to plate Stephanie Williams and Azaria Isbell, respectfully, for the 3-1 North Carolina A&T advantage.
 
The Wildcats put four on the board in the top of the next inning, giving the Maroon and Gold the lead once again at 5-3.
 
A Jacki Smith two-run double to left field plated Taylor Sherritt and Brianna Sanders, while Waters' double to left pushed across Smith and Mariah Davis, respectively.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, BCU reliever Mariah Estrada would get into trouble for the first time in the game as the Aggies rallied to score three on the right-hander from Palm Desert, California.
 
Designated player and relief pitcher Zadaisha Waddell's single shot back up the middle drove across the tying runs in the form of Pacheco and McCray. Two batters later, it was Mohagony Headen that drew a bases loaded RBI walk from reliever Victoria Guzman in the circle that drove in Raven Gray for the game-winning run.
 
The win went to Waddell (2-4) as she worked 3.1 innings of relief in the pitcher's circle, allowing just four hits. The loss went to Mariah Estrada (3-1) of the Wildcats as she suffered her first setback of the campaign in throwing 2.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks and striking out one.
 
The BCU bats were led by Jacki Smith's 2-for-4 effort at the dish, supplying a run and two RBIs. That was matched by Sanders' 2-for-3 game as she also scored a run.
 
GAME TWO: BCU 4, N.C. A&T 2
Alexis Bermudez went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Bethune-Cookman as the Wildcats collected a 4-2 decision in the nightcap of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball doubleheader against North Carolina A&T on Thursday afternoon at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Bethune-Cookman (17-21, 3-2 MEAC) scored first for the second time on the day.
 
With the bases loaded for the Wildcats and two outs in the top of the second inning, designated player Kaiya Epps-Lee scored unearned from third on a Mariah Davis base on balls from Aggies starting pitcher Zadaisha Waddell.
 
North Carolina A&T (6-24, 3-2 MEAC) responded in kind with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to collect a 2-1 lead.
 
A Mohagony Headen two-run homer to left was the highlight of the frame for the homestanding Aggies.
 
BCU would quickly respond in the top of the third when Alexis Bermudez delivered two of her game-high three RBIs off the end of a double down the line in left, allowing Iesha Waters and Jacki Smith to score, respectfully. That put BCU back on top, 3-2.
 
After Ryan Jackson started off the seventh inning with a single to left, she would eventually make her way across to score the insurance run, using another Bermudez double – this one to the wall in right field.
 
That produced the final 4-2 score in favor of the Maroon and Gold.
 
The winning pitcher for Bethune-Cookman was Destiny Enriquez (4-6) as the sophomore right-hander tossed four innings of relief effort in the circle. She scattered a single hit and struck out two in her time on the rubber. The loss went to North Carolina A&T's Waddell (2-5) as she went the distance, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, a walk and picking up two strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats offense was led by Bermudez's 3-for-3, three RBI effort at the dish. Waters was 2-for-4 with a run scored as well.
 
The two teams meet back at the Lady Aggies Softball Complex Saturday for the rubber game of the series beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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