TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Haley Parks tallied three hits Friday evening in helping Bethune-Cookman to 4-1 win over Florida A&M in the series-opener of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest at FAMU Stadium.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-19, 3-1 SWAC) took the lead early with two runs in the top of the second inning.
 
After Joslynn Davis walked and Carrington Robinson delivered an infield single, the Wildcats had the bases loaded with two away.
 
Right fielder Haley Parks stepped up and registered a two-run scoring single past the glove of Florida A&M pitcher Cris'Deona Beasley in order to plate Davis and Kallie Earlington.
 
The Wildcats added two runs in the top of the fourth to extend the lead at 4-0.
 
Carrington Robinson scored on an error by the FAMU infield, while Parks later scored courtesy a bunt from Essence Gibbs.
 
Florida A&M (9-11, 3-1 SWAC) chipped into the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Rattlers first baseman Jane'a Mobley registered her first home run of the year with a two-out solo homer over the wall in left.
 
That produced the final 4-1 score in favor of the Maroon and Gold.
 
The win was collected by Halyn Gonzalez (4-9), the reigning back-to-back SWAC Pitcher of the Week, as she worked a complete game in the circle for BCU, allowing just the one run on four hits scattered, one walk and picking up eight strikeouts. Meanwhile, FAMU's Beasley (5-3) accepted the loss in pitching five innings in the circle for the Rattlers, allowing four runs on seven hits, five walks and two strikeouts.
 
The Rattlers were led at the dish by Melkayla Irvis with a 2-for-3 performance.
 
BCU was led offensively by Parks' 3-for-4 outing, adding two RBIs and a run. Left fielder Robinson recorded two hits in three trips with a run scored as well.
 
The two sides meet back at FAMU Stadium on Saturday for the second game of the series, as first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
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