TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ryan Jackson delivered two home runs at the plate while Alexis Bermudez picked up a pair of wins in the pitcher's circle to help Bethune-Cookman sweep a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball doubleheader from Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon at the FAMU Softball Complex in Tallahassee, Florida. BCU collected the first game with a 5-2 win, and used a 14-8 victory in eight innings in the second game to move within a half-game of the MEAC Southern Division title.
 
GAME ONE: BCU 5, FAMU 2
Bethune-Cookman sophomore outfielder Ryan Jackson recorded her league-leading 16th home run of the year in helping the visiting Wildcats to a 5-2 victory over Florida A&M in a key MEAC matchup Saturday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader between the Wildcats and Rattlers at the FAMU Softball Complex in Tallahassee, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (25-24, 10-3 MEAC) opened the game's scoring in the top of the second inning when senior first baseman Iesha Waters scored on an error by Rattlers left fielder Tyra Bowers. Waters was hit by a pitch to open the frame before moving into scoring position on an error charged to FAMU catcher Mackenzie Woodard.
 
The Wildcats pushed the lead to 2-0 in the topo of the third as Waters, team captain for the Maroon and Gold in 2018, delivered a RBI single down the left field line to bring around Jacki Smith for the run.
 
Florida A&M (20-25, 11-2 MEAC) would cut the lead in half with a run of its own in the home-half of the fourth.
 
However, BCU answered quickly with a pair of runs in the fifth and another run in the sixth.
 
Ryan Jackson, the 2018 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, made it 3-1 in favor of the visitors when she recorded her 16th home run of the year to lead off the fifth inning. Taylor Sherritt scored Brianna Sanders with her RBI single after Sanders singled and advanced on one of four (4) FAMU errors in the game.
 
BCU increased its lead at 5-1 in the top of the sixth, using a Waters sacrifice fly to deep right in order to allow Cheyenne Smith to score from third. Smith, a junior transfer, singled to center in her at-bat during the sixth.
 
FAMU would plate another run in the bottom of the sixth with a Toni Anderson solo home run to produce the final 5-2 score line.
 
Freshman right-hander Alexis Bermudez (8-9) earned the win for the Wildcats in the pitcher's circle as the rookie went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, two walks and picking up one strikeout. The save went to Victoria Guzman as she collected her fourth of its kind on the season out of the bullpen.
 
FAMU's Veronica Burse (6-16) took the loss for the Rattlers as she worked a complete game, giving up five runs (three earned) on 14 hits allowed, one walk and striking out three batters.
 
The BCU bats were aided by Brianna Sanders' 3-for-4 effort at the dish, while Sherritt and Mariah Davis also collected two hits each in the game. Cheyenne Smith would finish 3-for-4 as well, adding a run scored, similarly to Sanders.
 
GAME TWO: BCU 14, FAMU 8
Bethune-Cookman scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to complete a 14-8 come-from-behind win and sweep a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) doubleheader from Florida A&M on Saturday afternoon at the FAMU Softball Complex in Tallahassee, Florida.
 
Trailing 8-6 entering the seventh inning, Bethune-Cookman (26-24, 11-3 MEAC) got a timely RBI double up the middle from senior first baseman Iesha Waters to score Jacki Smith and tie the game at 7-all forcing extra innings.
 
In the extra frame, the Wildcats erupted for six runs to burst out to a 14-8 lead – this time one in which they would not relinquish.
 
Taylor Sherritt began the inning with a double to right field, only to come in to score on the next play with a single from second baseman Kayla Traylor – aided by a throwing error charged to FAMU second baseman Shayla Boyd. Jacki Smith would plate Cheyenne Smith with a single to right, setting the stage for sophomore outfielder Ryan Jackson to tally her league-leading 17th home run of the year with a three-run shot clear the wall in left.
 
Brianna Sanders would bring around Iesha Waters to make it 14-8 in favor of the visiting Wildcats with her RBI double to right center.
 
Bethune-Cookman began the game getting to FAMU starting pitcher Kyaira Brown immediately, with the Wildcats scoring six runs in the opening half-inning.
 
Senior third baseman Kailey Richard picked up a two-run scoring single to center field, while teammate Sanders would join her and Waters two plays later in scoring unearned on an error by FAMU centerfielder Jamesia Stoudemire. BCU led 6-0 after senior Mariah Davis produced a RBI single on a bunt – her second hit of the frame.
 
The Wildcats added a run in the top of the second to increase the lead at 7-0, using Waters' second sacrifice fly of the day to score Jacki Smith from third.
 
Florida A&M (20-26, 11-3 MEAC) would storm back in the home-half of the fifth to take a 7-6 lead with the Rattlers scoring seven runs on six hits in the frame. The big blow came from Kyaira Brown with two outs as she registered a two-run scoring double down the line in right to bring in Kaylin Rhone and Alexis Day for the tying and go-ahead scores, respectfully.
 
The Rattlers would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with Stoudemire's RBI single back up the middle that plated Tyra Bowers after she reached on a fielder's choice in her earlier plate appearance.
 
For the second time on the day, freshman pitcher Alexis Bermudez (9-9) picked up the win in the circle for the Maroon and Gold, as she worked three innings in relief action, allowing just one run on four hits and collecting two strikeouts. The loss went to Brown for FAMU as she dropped to 14-10 in a complete-game effort, allowing 14 runs (five earned) on 15 hits and registering five strikeouts.
 
BCU starting pitcher freshman Victoria Guzman went 4.2 innings on the rubber before exiting the game without a decision after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
 
The Cats were led offensively by Jacki Smith and Waters each picking up three hits in the game, the latter scoring two runs and driving in two. Jackson finished 2-for-4 with her home run and three RBIs. Davis was 2-for-5 with two run s scored and a RBI in the leadoff spot. And it was Cheyenne Smith adding a 2-for-3 effort with a run of her own.
 
Bethune-Cookman and FAMU meet again for the final game of the series with the MEAC Southern Division title and number one seed in the coming MEAC Softball Tournament on the line. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
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