Box Score DeLAND, Fla. – For the third time on the weekend, Bethune-Cookman Softball suffered a late-inning rally from the opposition as the Drexel Dragons hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to complete a 9-8 come-from-behind win at Patricia Wilson Field as part of the Hatter Classic. The three-day event was hosted by Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.
 
With Bethune-Cookman (7-13) holding an 8-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, once again fate hit the Wildcats on the wrong end as Drexel hit a grand slam off freshman pitcher Alexis Bermudez to complete the comeback win for the Dragons. For Bethune-Cookman, the late-inning grand slam was the third of its kind on the weekend allowed by Bermudez as opposing teams completed comeback wins against the Maroon and Gold.
 
The first five batters of the Drexel at-bat in the sixth reached safely, as Jenelle Ladrido walked from the eight spot in the lineup, followed by a single from nine-hole hitter Reilly Jo Swanson and another walk drawn by Taylor Kent to load the bases. A dropped foul on Hannah Walker would come back to hurt the Cats as she then secured a base on balls for the first run of the inning. That allowed shortstop Linda Rush to tally her first grand slam of the year to plate four and secure the comeback win.
 
BCU opened the game's scoring in the top of the first inning, using a Kailey Richard double to the wall in left center to bring around first baseman Iesha Waters from second, after the senior first baseman swiped second following an error to put her on.
 
Drexel (4-5-1) responded in the bottom-half of the inning to take the 2-1 lead.
 
After Walker singled to center, Rush picked up her first home run of the game to plate two for the Dragons.
 
BCU answered in kind in the top of the third with seven runs off Dragons' starter Katie Haley.
 
Waters and Richard scored on an error charged to Drexel centerfielder Taylor Kent, followed by Taylor Sherritt's RBI single to center that advanced Brianna Sanders home for the 5-2 Wildcats advantage.
 
Ryan Jackson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Sherritt, before Mariah Davis picked up a pair of RBIs on a single to deep center that plated Jacki Smith and Bryanna Campos on the play. Another bases loaded walk, this one issued to Richard, pushed the Maroon and Gold lead to 8-2 heading into the bottom of the third.
 
Drexel cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, as second baseman Elena Woulfe doubled to center field off relief pitcher Alexis Bermudez for the Wildcats. The hit scored Megan Trivelpiece and Taylor Lee, respectfully, and brought Drexel to within 8-4.
 
The win was picked up in the circle by Drexel reliever Devon Grippe (1-2) as she went four innings on the rubber, scattering four hits and striking out three. Katie Haley took the no-decision in the start as she was knocked around for eight runs (seven earned) on nine BCU hits, adding a walk and a strikeout.
 
The loss went to Bermudez, dropping her to 2-4 on the season, as she went 3.1 innings in the circle, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and walking three batters.
 
The Wildcats were led at the plate by Jacki Smith's perfect 4-for-4 showing, adding a run scored. That was followed closely by Taylor Sherritt's 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a run and a RBI. Richard added a multi-hit game with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored.
 
Bethune-Cookman opens the 2018 home schedule Tuesday, March 6, as the Wildcats host Holy Cross to Sunnyland Park for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Bethune-Cookman Softball on Twitter (@BCUSoftball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).