CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Alexis Bermudez and Victoria Guzman combined to pitch Bethune-Cookman Softball to a 5-3 upset of No. 17 Oregon on Thursday afternoon at Fenway Field as part of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. For BCU, it was the first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since Laura Watten and the Cats won the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional in 2005, defeating the host Gators of Florida in the regional title game.
 
With BCU playing the first of five games in its "home away from home" during the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic – as 13 of the team's 19 players originate from the Golden State, the Wildcats faced the first of two (2) top 25 programs in Thursday's opening day of play on the west coast.
 
Bethune-Cookman (4-7) jumped on top of the Ducks with five runs across the opening two frames.
 
Junior right fielder Kaiya Epps-Lee smacked a two-out single past the glove of Oregon shortstop Jasmine Sievers to drive home Cheyenne Smith from third for the game's opening run. Also scoring on the play for the Maroon and Gold was Brianna Paysinger, coming in to score via an error charged to Ducks first baseman Hannah Galey.
 
BCU led 2-0 after the first inning.
 
The Wildcats added three more runs in the top of the second to extend the lead, 5-0.
 
Catcher Kayla Traylor reached to begin the inning on a fielding error by Sievers at shortstop. Sasha Killings followed with a double, and Jacki Smith walked to load the bases on Oregon starting pitcher Maddie MacGrandle.
 
Wildcats centerfielder Cheyenne Smith then delivered a two-run double through the right side in order to plate Killings and Traylor, respectfully. Paysinger followed in her at-bat with a sacrifice fly to deep center, allowing the speedy Jacki Smith to trot in from third.
 
That would be all for MacGrandle in the circle, as she worked just 2.1 innings in being responsible for all five BCU runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks.
 
Oregon (8-3) found its way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when designated player April Utrecht scored from third on an infield error by Bethune-Cookman with two outs.
 
The Ducks would find the offense once again in the home-half of the fourth with a pair of runs.
 
With the first two batters aboard for Oregon to begin the at-bat, Alee Bunker laced a two-run scoring double to the wall in right center to bring around Shaye Bowden and Cherish Burks, cutting into the deficit at 5-3.
 
With Oregon trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh and two runners in scoring position, sophomore hurler Victoria Guzman struck out Utrecht and got Bowden to ground out to Yvonne Siordia at third in order to seal the upset win for BCU.
 
The win went to Guzman out of the bullpen, pushing her record for the year to 2-1, as she worked four innings of relief in the circle. She allowed just two hits, one walk and struck out a pair. Classmate Alexis Bermudez worked the game's first three innings without factoring into the decision, as she allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits, two walks and picked up a strikeout to set the tone.
 
The loss went to Oregon's MacGrandle, dropping her record at 2-3 on the campaign.
 
The BCU bats were sparked by Cheyenne Smith's 2-for-4 effort at the plate, adding a run and two RBIs. Epps-Lee was 2-for-3 at the dish with a RBI of her own.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to the field later Thursday evening when the Wildcats face their second nationally ranked team of the day in the form of 16th-ranked Kentucky at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
 
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