DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Halyne Gonzalez went the distance in the circle for Bethune-Cookman while Joslynn Davis went 3-for-3 at the dish to help the homestanding Wildcats pick up a hard-fought to a 3-2 series-opening win from Jackson State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball action on Friday afternoon at Sunnyland Park.
 
Bethune-Cookman (7-22, 5-2 SWAC) would lead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After centerfielder Joslynn Davis produced the first of her three hits on the day and abruptly stole second to work her way into scoring position with one out, shortstop Kayla Traylor delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Davis for the game's opening run.
 
The Wildcats widened the lead with two more runs in the home-half of the third inning.
 
Back-to-back singles from Haley Parks and Davis put runners on the corners right from the start. Traylor registered her second RBI single of the day pushing across Parks from third for the 2-0 BCU lead.
 
Desirae Martinez collected a sacrifice fly to left field to bring around Davis and give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
 
Jackson State (14-16, 3-4 SWAC) got a run back in the top of the sixth, using an RBI ground out from catcher Isabel Gusman to score Marissa Medina and cut the BCU lead at 3-1. Medina walked earlier in the JSU at-bat, and later advanced into scoring position via wild pitch.
 
In the top of the seventh, JSU scored again off the end of a Jace Jackson leadoff home run to make it 3-2 in favor of the Wildcats.
 
The Tigers had a runner in scoring position at third base with two outs before Gonzalez picked up her eighth strikeout of the day in getting left fielder Hermariya Stephens to end the game.
 
The win went to Gonzalez, improving her record at 6-10 for the season, as she pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits, six walks and recording eight strikeouts. The loss went to JSU starter Takiya Hill, dropping her record to 2-4 on the year, as she went six innings in the circle, giving up three runs on nine hits, one walk and one strikeout.
 
The Tigers were led offensively by Brooklyn Morris and Jackson with a hit each, including the Jackson home run – her first of the campaign.
 
BCU was paced at the plate by Davis' perfect 3-for-3 performance, as she also scored two runs. Traylor would end the day 2-for-2 with two RBIs to help her cause.
 
The two teams meet back at Sunnyland Park for game two of the three-game league series on Saturday, March 25, at 1 p.m.
 
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