BOCA RATON, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman's Carrington Robinson registered a multi-hit day on Sunday as Bethune-Cookman fell away to Florida Atlantic 5-3 at FAU Softball Stadium. The game was the last of five played over the weekend as part of the Paradise Classic hosted by FAU.
 
Florida Atlantic (3-2) opened the scoring in the home-half of the first inning when Sara Berthiaume scored from third on a RBI ground out to first off the bat of Riley Olson.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-3) answered with a run of its own in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Second baseman Desirae Martinez posted her first collegiate home run with a two-out solo shot to left field to tie the game at 1-all.
 
The Owls would quickly respond with a pair of runs in the home-half of the frame.
 
After Olivia Peterson singled, it would be Riley Ennis reaching on an error charged to BCU pitcher Halyne Gonzalez that allowed Peterson to score for the 2-1 FAU advantage. Pinch runner Abby Ota would come around to score for the 3-1 Owls lead when Kaitlyn Cunningham stole second, and Ota was able to eventually score on the play courtesy an error – the second of the day, charged to the Wildcats infield.
 
However, the Maroon and Gold answered with two runs in the top of the fifth.
 
Carrington Robinson delivered a run-scoring single back up the middle in order to plate pinch runner Shania Owens. Two plays later, it was Joslynn Davis recording a sacrifice fly in foul territory that was just deep enough for Kayla Traylor to scurry home safely.
 
The game stood tied at 3-3 in the middle of the fifth.
 
But FAU would produce the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the frame as Berthiaume scored on an Ajah Mallary wild pitch with the bases loaded. Berthiaume worked her way on base with a double to left field in her earlier at-bat.
 
With the Owls up 4-3 in the sixth, the hosts would add an insurance run for the 5-3 final in the bottom of the inning courtesy Berthiaume's fielder's choice to second base that was enough to see Kylie Hammonds score from third. The pinch runner advanced to third a play earlier off a Mallary wild pitch – her second of the game.
 
The win was taken by Ainsley Lambert, improving her to 1-0 on the year, as she went five innings in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. The save was collected by Lynn Gardner in working a clean inning with a strikeout to boot.
 
BCU starter Gonzalez accepted the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year, as she pitched five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, three walks and producing three strikeouts.
 
FAU was led at the plate by first baseman Zoey Jones with a 2-for-3 effort, while Berthiaume was 2-for-4 in her own right with two runs and a RBI.
 
Bethune-Cookman leaned on Robinson's 2-for-3 effort at the dish, as the fifth-year outfielder from Orange Park Florida added a RBI. Martinez, a sophomore second baseman from Whittier, California, had the home run in a 1-for-2 afternoon. Haley Parks, Essence Gibbs and Kayla Traylor also had hits each for the Wildcats.
 
BCU is back in action next weekend when the Maroon and Gold travels to the Jacksonville University Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. The three-day event begins Friday, Feb. 17, when the Cats take on Memphis at 2:30 p.m.
 
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