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Box Score 2 CLEARWATER, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball collected a pair of non-conference wins Friday afternoon as the Wildcats defeated Iona in extra innings and South Dakota State in the nightcap as part of the 2018 Under Armour Showcase at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The event is presented by the University of South Florida.
BCU 6, IONA 4 (8 innings)
Mariah Davis,
Kailey Richard combined for seven of Bethune-Cookman's eight hits, while freshman pitcher
Alexis Bermudez went the distance in the circle to help the Wildcats defeat Iona, 6-4 in eight innings at the Eddie C. Moore Complex as part of the Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Florida.
Bethune-Cookman (10-14) plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning to pull away from Iona.
Cheyenne Smith was placed on second to begin the inning, as the game used international rules for the regular season tournament format.
Jacki Smith's single back to the pitcher quickly allowed the Wildcats runners on the corners with nobody out.
Ryan Jackson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for senior center fielder
Mariah Davis to stroke a two-run single back up the middle that scores both
Cheyenne Smith and
Jacki Smith, respectfully.
With Bethune-Cookman leading 5-3,
Kailey Richard's RBI single past the glove of Iona first baseman Jasmine Temple down the right field line allowed Jackson to score for the 6-3 BCU advantage.
Iona (6-5) countered with a run in the home-half of the extra inning affair.
Second baseman Hailey Thompson delivered a one-out single up the middle to score Ciarra DiGuilio who was standing on second. But a strikeout from Wildcats starting pitcher
Alexis Bermudez and a ground out second base ended the threat and allowed BCU the win.
Bethune-Cookman opened the game with a pair of runs of Iona starting pitcher Marnie Skinner in the top of the first inning.
With runners on second and third for the Cats, senior first baseman and team captain
Iesha Waters recorded a single to third base that scored
Ryan Jackson for the early 1-0 lead.
Mariah Davis would score from third two plays later courtesy a throwing error charged to Iona catcher Tori Danner.
Iona would trim the lead at 2-1 with a run pulled back in the bottom of the first inning.
The Gaels took their first lead of the game in the home-half of the third, using a RBI ground out from Kimmie Chiapparelli to plate Marisa Gergel. That was followed by Danner scoring the go-ahead run at 3-2 off a wild pitch from Bermudez.
The Wildcats tied things up in the top of the fourth with Bermudez collecting a sacrifice fly to right that allowed Waters to score from third and knot the game at 3-all.
The win went to BCU's Bermudez as she went the complete game effort in the circle, evening her record at 4-4 on the year with the victory. She allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits, five walks and two strikeouts. The loss was given to Iona's Skinner (2-2) in the complete-game where she allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and picked up a game-high seven strikeouts.
BCU was led at the plate by Davis with a 3-for-4 effort, adding two RBIs and a run scored herself. Waters finished 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI. And it was Richard supplying a 2-for-4 effort with a RBI.
BCU 3, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1
Bethune-Cookman used a combined pitching performance from sophomores
Destiny Enriquez and
Mariah Estrada on Friday afternoon to collect a hard-fought 3-1 win over South Dakota State at the Eddie C. Moore Complex as part of the Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Florida. The game was the second of two played on the day by the Wildcats from Daytona Beach.
Bethune-Cookman (11-14) sophomore right fielder
Ryan Jackson, the 2018 Preseason Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, opened the Wildcats batting in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff home run to straightaway center field. For Jackson, a native of Chino Hills, California, the home run was her team-leading seventh of the campaign.
The Maroon and Gold increased the lead at 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
A two-out scoring rally began for BCU when Jackson picked up her second RBI of the game with a base on balls with the bases full of Wildcats, allowing
Bryanna Campos to trot in from third. Senior center fielder
Mariah Davis immediately followed with a run-scoring single up the middle that scored
Cheyenne Smith.
South Dakota State (10-7) got on the board in the top of the sixth when first baseman Ali Herdliska homered to right field off BCU starting pitcher
Destiny Enriquez.
BCU reliever
Mariah Estrada entered the pitcher's circle in the sixth to work the final 1.2 innings of the contest.
Enriquez worked 5.1 innings in the win, moving her record for the year out to 2-5. She allowed just the one run on seven hits, a walk and a strikeout. Estrada did not allow a hit in her time on the rubber, striking out three batters as well.
The loss went to South Dakota State's Taylor Compton (4-6) as she went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
The BCU offensive attack was led by
Brianna Sanders with a 2-for-3 effort at the dish, as well as shortstop
Jacki Smith supplying a 2-for-3 day for the Maroon and Gold as well.
Bethune-Cookman is back in action Saturday when the cats continue play in the Under Armour Showcase against Northern Kentucky (11:15 a.m.) and Quinnipiac (4:15 p.m.), respectfully.
