CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Bethune-Cookman Softball completed one of the toughest weekend schedules in school history on Saturday evening, as the Wildcats dropped a 4-0 decision to Cal State Fullerton, before then suffering a hard-fought 4-1 defeat to No. 13 Arizona State at the Big League Dreams Complex. The games were a part of the 2019 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic held just outside of Palm Springs, California.
 
CAL STATE FULLERTON 4, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 0
Cal State Fullerton used two runs in the fifth inning break open a tight ballgame Saturday evening, eventually claiming a 4-0 win over Bethune-Cookman in the first of two games on the night for the Wildcats of BCU as part of the 2019 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California.
 
Bethune-Cookman (4-10) had its best chance of the game to break the 0-0 deadlock in the home-half of the fourth inning.
 
Pinch running for Alexis Bermudez, BCU rookie Carrington Robinson advanced all the way to third on an error charged to Cal State Fullerton second baseman Alexa Neil as Yvonne Siordia reached on a fielder's choice. Robinson came on to run for Alexis Bermudez after the BCU hurler was walked to begin the at-bat. However, after Briana Zavala stole second to put two in scoring position and nobody out, a double play and a strikeout would end the scoring threat and keep the game scoreless.
 
Cal State Fullerton (9-4) took advantage of a fifth-inning error and a hit batter in order to allow Deshea Hill to deliver the game-winning RBI double to right field that plated Neil unearned on the play. The Titans would add another score when designated player Janelle Rodriguez lined a sacrifice fly to centerfield that brought in the speedy Ari Williams from third.
 
In the top of the seventh, Cal State Fullerton would seal the victory with an RBI single up the middle from Hill that scored Neil, followed by an Evelyn Sablan RBI single to plate Williams for the 4-0 final score in favor of the Titans.
 
Sophie Frost (6-2) picked up the win for the Titans in going the distance in the pitcher's circle, scattering three hits and striking out three batters against two walks. The loss went to Alexis Bermudez (1-7) with the sophomore right-hander tossing six frames, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, three walks and tallying five strikeouts.
 
BCU was limited to just three hits in the contest, those coming by way of Brianna Paysinger, Kaiya Epps-Lee and Brianna Sanders, respectively.
 
NO. 13 ARIZONA STATE 4, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 1
Bethune-Cookman's gritty performance fell just short Saturday evening, as the Wildcats softball team dropped a heartbreaking 4-1 decision to 13th-ranked Arizona State in what was BCU's final game of the 2019 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California.
 
With Arizona State (11-4) holding onto a 3-0 lead entering the sixth inning, Bethune-Cookman began the at-bat in the top of the frame with a single to short from senior outfielder Cheyenne Smith. The California native would move into scoring position one pitch later on a wild pitch from ASU starter Samantha Mejia.
 
Bethune-Cookman (4-11) would break through into the scoring column when Alexis Bermudez reached on an error charged to Sun Devils third baseman Kaira Kennedy, allowing Kaiya Epps-Lee to move to third, and Cheyenne Smith to score on the play. Carrington Robinson would pinch run for Bermudez and steal second to place two in scoring position for the Wildcats, before Mejia collected the strikeout of Jacki Smith to retire the side.
 
The Sun Devils of ASU would add an insurance run in the home-half of the sixth, using McCarty's double to left in order to drive around Loomis who was hit by a pitch to begin the at-bat.
 
Mejia (7-1) earned the win in the circle in allowing just the one unearned run on three hits, two walks and striking out eight. Victoria Guzman (2-3) accepted the loss, as she toed the rubber for 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats offense was spurred by Cheyenne Smith's 1-for-1 effort and a run scored. Meanwhile, it was Epps-Lee producing a hit, as well as second baseman Quianah Mitchell recording a hit.
 
Bethune-Cookman welcomes North Florida to Sunnyland Park for the 2019 BCU home opener on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. The contest will be a single game affair between the two Florida schools.
 
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