CLEARWATER, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball split a pair of games Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats fell to Penn (5-1) before bouncing back to defeat Binghamton (2-1) as part of the Under Armour Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
 
PENN 5, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 1
Bethune-Cookman was limited to just two hits Saturday afternoon, falling to Penn by a score of 5-1 in day two action of the Under Armour Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
 
Bethune-Cookman (4-14) got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Catcher Kayla Traylor reached on an error, allowing senior first baseman Brianna Sanders to score from second on the play, after the California native reached on a walk to lead off the inning.
 
Penn (2-2) answered with a run to bring the game level in the bottom of the inning.
 
First baseman Sarah Cwiertnia doubled with one away, and a single from Corrie Phillips allowed pinch runner Clare Sebastianell to score on the play, knotting the game at 1-all.
 
The Quakers would add a run to take the lead at 2-1 in the home-half of the fifth inning, using a Sam Pederson sacrifice fly to left in order to cross Kayla Ketring – who tripled off BCU starting pitcher Alexis Bermudez a play earlier.
 
Penn would tack on a trio of insurance runs in the sixth, bringing the final score to 5-1.
 
The win was collected by Tabitha Dyer, registering her first decision of the year, as she threw the complete seven innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits scattered, three walks and a game-high five strikeouts produced. Bermudez (1-10) took the loss for the Wildcats in working five frames in the circle, being tagged for five runs on five hits, three walks and picking up three strikeouts.
 
BCU received hits from Jacki Smith and Kaiya Epps-Lee, respectfully.
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN 2, BINGHAMTON 1
Bethune-Cookman scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to erase an earl deficit and defeat Binghamton, 2-1 in day two action of the Under Armour Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. For the Wildcats, the victory allowed them to finish the weekend with a 1-3 record overall.
 
Binghamton (3-4) stepped out in front when Amanda Ricci – pinch running for left fielder Sophia Pappas, scored on the heels of an error charged to the BCU infield.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-14) would continue to trail by a 1-0 deficit until the top of the fourth inning.
 
After designated player Alexis Bermudez walked with two outs, Carrington Robinson would pinch run for the preseason all-conference pitcher. That set the plate for first baseman Brianna Sanders to drive in a run with a double to the wall in left center, scoring Robinson to tie the game at 1-all.
 
One play later, Kaiya Epps-Lee traded places with Sanders at second base, as the Wildcats right fielder registered a double to plate Sanders and give BCU the 2-1 advantage.
 
BCU starting pitcher Destiny Enriquez would hold Binghamton at bay the rest of the way, collecting her second win of the year to increase her record the season at 2-1 overall. She worked the entire game in the pitcher's circle for the Maroon and Gold, allowing just the one unearned run on three hits scattered, four walks and tallying five strikeouts.
 
The loss went to Binghamton's Rayn Gibson (1-1), as she countered by going the distance in the circle, allowing two runs on four hits, one walk and grabbing a season-high 12 strikeouts.
 
The Bethune-Cookman bats were led by Jacki Smith with a 2-for-3 effort at the dish, while Sanders was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. And it was Epps-Lee with a 1-for-3 showing and a RBI to boot as well.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Tuesday, March 5, when BCU hosts Mount St. Mary's to Sunnyland Park for the 2019 home opener for the Maroon and Gold. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.