DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman left eight players on base Saturday afternoon, as Alabama A&M evened the three-game series with the Wildcats courtesy a 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball win at Sunnyland Park. Bethune-Cookman took Friday's series opener 9-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman (3-19, 1-1 SWAC) got on the board first despite not recording a hit throughout the opening frame. Kayla Traylor worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on an error and eventually came around to score on another wild pitch that made it 1-0 early-on.
 
The Wildcats nearly pushed another run across in the third, but centerfielder Joslynn Davis was trying to steal second just one pitch before a triple by right fielder Haley Parks.
 
Alabama A&M (10-8, 1-1 SWAC) tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on two infield singles and an RBI single up the middle by first baseman Zahria Jones. A stolen base and wild pitch brought Allyson Riches in to give AAMU its first lead of the weekend at 2-1.
 
The Bulldogs made it 3-1 on a sacrifice fly by Faith Cross, scoring Jones from third.
 
Sophomore Halyne Gonzalez replaced the starter Victoria Guzman in the pitcher's circle to start the fifth inning. She worked a quiet three innings to keep the Wildcats within striking distance.
 
Essence Gibbs pinch hit to lead off the sixth, punching a double into center field. She came around to score on a Bulldogs error that made it 3-2.
 
With the heart of the lineup set to bat in the bottom of the seventh, BCU put the bat on two well-hit balls, but the defense for the Bulldogs was perfectly placed to collected the outs and seal the win.
 
Venice Sanders went the distance in the circle for the visitors, evening her record at 1-1 on the year. She worked all seven innings for the Bulldogs, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits, three walks and one strikeout. Guzman took the loss to fall to 1-7 on the season, as she went four innings in the circle, giving up three runs on three hits and striking out four batters.
 
Jones and Cross each went 1-for-2 at the dish for the Bulldogs, with both adding RBIs as well.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by six different players registering a hit, including the triple from Essence Gibbs.
 
The two teams meet back at Sunnyland Park in the rubber game of the series on Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m.
 
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