JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball was unable to get the bats warmed up on Saturday, as the Wildcats dropped two games at the JU/UNF Invitational at Pruitt Softball Complex on the campus of Jacksonville University. BCU dropped the first game 3-0 to Penn State, before suffering a 6-1 setback to Jacksonville in the nightcap.
 
Game One: Penn State 3, BCU 0
Penn State scored runs across the third and fifth innings on Saturday to defeat Bethune-Cookman 3-0 at Pruitt Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
Penn State (3-0) got solid pitching from starter Paige Maynard.
 
The Nittany Lions scored first in the top-half of the third inning, using an error charged to the Bethune-Cookman (1-6) infield, and allowing left fielder Liana Jones to score and give Penn State the 1-0 lead. Jones singled from the top of the lineup to begin the inning.
 
PSU would tack on two runs in the fifth inning for the eventual 3-0 final score.
 
After Maggie Finnegan drew a base on balls, Lexie Black immediately made the Wildcats pay, as she lifted a two-run homer over the center field wall. For Black, it was her first home run of the season.
 
Maynard collected the win to improve her record at 1-0, as she struck out four batters and allowed just one base runner in the shutout win. Meanwhile, BCU's Victoria Guzman accepted the loss to drop her 2023 record at 0-3. Guzman went six innings in the circle, being touched for three runs (two earned) on four hits, walking three and striking out one.
 
Black went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs for the Nittany Lions.
 
Game Two: Jacksonville 6, BCU 1
Desirae Martinez tallied two hits on Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman fell to host Jacksonville by a count of 6-1 in nonconference softball action played at Pruitt Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
JU (5-4) led 1-0 after three innings.
 
But Bethune-Cookman (1-7) would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, after catcher Jordyn Villanueva reached base on a fielding error charged to Madison Reynolds at shortstop, and later came around to score on a passed ball by catcher Madison Kennedy.
 
The Dolphins quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the lead for good.
 
Lindsey Chadwick scored Kari Holzrichter on a double down the left field line, before the first baseman eventually scored on a BCU error, giving her side the 3-1 advantage.
 
JU would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The win was collected by Ashlee Harwood for JU, as she pitched seven innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits scattered, walking one and striking out nine. She raised her record to 3-1 on the season with the victory.
 
Meanwhile, Halyne Gonzalez took the loss for Bethune-Cookman, lowering her record at 1-4 for the year. Gonzalez worked four innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits, one walk, and collecting one strikeout. Alyssa Lopez tossed the final inning for the Maroon and Gold, as she walked three and struck out three.
 
JU was led at the plate by Allison Bratek with three hits in three appearances, adding three RBIs and a run.
 
BCU was led by Martinez at the dish, with the Wildcats second baseman collecting two hits in three at-bats.
 
Bethune-Cookman takes on North Florida on Sunday to conclude the JU/UNF Invitational at 12:30 p.m.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Softball on Twitter (@BCUSoftball) and Instagram (@BCUSoftball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.