JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three different Wildcats registered hits Wednesday evening, as Bethune-Cookman fell to North Florida 3-1 in nonconference softball action at UNF Softball Complex. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the two teams decided to make it a single game affair prior to the start.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-18) starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez was off the mark Wednesday, with the crafty right-hander lasting just one inning before exiting the contest. She allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and walked three in that span.
 
It would be Alyssa Lopez finishing the remainder of the game for the Maroon and Gold in the pitcher's circle.
 
North Florida (11-6) used a Shannon Glover single up the middle to bring in leadoff batter Kayla Harper – after the centerfielder walked and stole second to begin, opening the scoring in the bottom of the first. A Chloe Culp single to second base one batter batter later would bring around Logan Jackson for the 2-0 Ospreys lead.
 
BCU got back into it in the top-half of the third inning.
 
Carrington Robinson singled produced a one-out single before stealing second to work herself into scoring position. Shortstop Kayla Traylor hit a hard groundball to short, but it was misplayed on the throw by UNF's Savannah Channell. That allowed Robinson to score unearned on the play.
 
The Wildcats trailed 2-1 after three innings.
 
The homestanding Ospreys would add an insurance run in the home-half of the fourth when a Mackenzie Woods double to left center was followed by a Harper single back up the middle to bring around the UNF catcher for the score. That would produce the final 3-1 score line.
 
The win was collected by reliever Skyler Stockie, evening her record at 2-2 on the year, as she worked five innings, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits and recording three strikeouts. For BCU, the loss went to Gonzalez, dropping her record at 1-9 on the year.
 
For BCU, Lopez worked five innings in the circle, allowing just one run on four hits scattered.
 
Haley Parks, Samantha Kelley and Robinson each tallied hits in the game for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Bethune-Cookman begins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play this weekend as the Cats welcome Alabama A&M to Sunnyland Park for the home opener. The three-game series begins Friday, March 10, at 1 p.m.
 
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