ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Alexis Bermudez threw the first Bethune-Cookman no-hitter in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament play and her second of the season as the Wildcats downed Coppin State 8-0 in the tournament opener Wednesday at Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The sophomore from Sante Fe Springs, Calif., who received her 2019 MEAC Pitcher Of The Year award in a pre-game ceremony, retired the first 11 Coppin State batters before giving up the first of two walks in the fourth. She struck out six.

Brianna Paysinger and Brianna Sanders each drove in three runs, and Kaira Cabato smacked a solo home run to left to lead off the sixth for the offense the Wildcats (23-28) needed to run-rule the Eagles (9-31) and advance to Thursday's 3 p.m. game against Howard, who defeated North Carolina Central 6-0.

Paysinger's two-run single and a bases-loaded Sanders double highlighted Bethune-Cookman's five-run outburst with two outs in the second.

Sasha Killings singled home Cheyenne Smith in the fourth while Paysinger's third single of the day plated Carrington Robinson to make it 7-0 after five.

Smith and Robinson each finished with two hits for the Wildcats.

Bermudez became the first BCU pitcher since Lauren McCoy in 2004 to have two no-hitters in the same season. McCoy also did it in 2003.
 
HEAD COACH LAURA WATTEN
On Alexis Bermudez:
"If she continues to stay focus and hits her spots, we'll be okay. She's going to continue to get better."
On Brianna Paysinger At Leadoff:
"She sets the tone. She's confident and makes the adjustments in her at bats."
 
ALEXIS BERMUDEZ
"It was so much fun. The defense brings so much energy. When the defense is up, and the dugout is up, there's a swagger and it makes the game fun."

"No one actually talks about a no-hitter until after the game."

BRIANNA PAYSINGER
"I hit leadoff when I was a sophomore in high school and in travel ball. Taking on the role and being able to step up for the team is exciting."

"I'm just focusing on the yellow ball and helping the person to the left and the right of me in the line-up."

"Lexi, Lexi, Lexi…she's an amazing pitcher. She works over time."



 
NOTES: BCU now 14-0 in MEAC tournament openers in the Laura Watten era .. Paysinger now has a 10-game hitting streak … This was also her third 3-RBI game of the year as well as the first for Sanders … BCU now 5-3 with Paysinger hitting leadoff …  Paysinger now has 18 two-out RBI on the year and Sanders eight … Bermudez now has nine shutouts on the year … This was Cabato's second home run of the year. Robinson had her first career multi-hit game.