DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman's Essence Gibbs finished a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate on Friday afternoon in helping power the Wildcats to an 8-3 series-opening victory over Alabama State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball at Sunnyland Park.
 
Trailing 3-1 midway through the fourth inning, Bethune-Cookman (9-23, 7-3 SWAC) rallied to score three runs and reclaim the Wildcats early lead.
 
Essence Gibbs got on via a single past the glove of Alabama State pitcher Bailey Greenlee, only to come around and score two plays later after a single from BCU catcher Jordyn Villanueva, followed by a throwing error charged to the ASU infield. Haley Parks registered her first triple of the season in the next at-bat, plating both Carrington Robinson and Villanueva, respectively.
 
For the Wildcats, all three runs were scored with two outs.
 
BCU would lead it 4-3 after four innings complete.
 
The Maroon and Gold added a run to make it 5-3 in the home-half of the fifth when Villanueva drew a bases-loaded walk that allowed shortstop Kayla Traylor to scurry in on the play.
 
The Cats added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to produce the final 8-3 decision.
 
After Joslynn Davis walked and Traylor singled to put two Wildcats aboard, second baseman Desirae Martinez pushed out her third home run of the season with a three-run shot clear the wall in left.
 
BCU scored first in the home-half of the second, as a Gibbs leadoff triple – her first of the campaign, setup the Cerritos, California product to eventually score on a wild pitch from Greenlee.
 
Alabama State (18-15, 7-3 SWAC) grabbed a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
 
After Madison Myers reached on an error, she was replaced by pinch runner JaNiyah Boykin following a double to right field from centerfielder Kindall DeRamus. Alexia Denby tied the game at 1-all with her double to right that scored DeRamus. Boykin later came in courtesy a fielding error by the Wildcats infield to give ASU a 2-1 advantage in the game. The Hornets third run of the frame came when a failed pickoff attempt at second base sailed into center field, allowing Denby to race home from third.
 
The win went to BCU sophomore right-hander Halyne Gonzalez, lifting her record for the season to 8-10. The reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week worked 6.1 innings in the circle for the Maroon and Gold, allowing three runs (all unearned), scattering six hits, and registering a game-high seven strikeouts. Victoria Guzman entered the circle and collected the final two outs in the seventh.
 
The loss went to ASU's Greenlee, dropping her record for the year at 10-6. She went the distance in the circle for the Hornets, being touched for eight runs on nine hits, seven walks and six strikeouts.
 
Shortstop Alana Scott finished with a pair of hits for the Hornets, while Denby added an RBI for the visitors.
 
BCU was led offensively by the 4-for-4 performance from Essence Gibbs, as she scored two runs on the day as well. Martinez turned in three RBIs via the homer. And it was Haley Parks at the top of the order driving in two runs in the contest.
 
The two teams meet for game two of the three-game series back at Sunnyland Park on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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