DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball is set to celebrate "Senior Appreciation Day" this weekend, as the Wildcats welcome Florida A&M to Sunnyland Park for a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series in Daytona Beach, Florida. Earlier this season, BCU took two-of-three from the Rattlers in winning the opening and closing games of the series, respectfully.
 
The series begins Friday, April 21, at 3 p.m.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, April 21
3 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
 
Saturday, April 22
1 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
 
Sunday, April 23
1 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN STATS & NOTES

• The Wildcats dropped their first SWAC series of the season this past week, as BCU dropped the final two games after winning the opener away to Jackson State in Mississippi.
• Bethune-Cookman spent 13 consecutive days on the road in the state of Mississippi stemming from a host of rain-outs and weather delays added with field conditions at Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State, respectively.
• The Cats have now dropped four of their last seven games in all competitions.
• BCU is 6-5 at home this season.
• Desirae Martinez leads the cats with a .303 batting average to go along with six (6) doubles and three home runs.
• Ciera Clark tallied her second home run of the season last week at Jackson State.
• Martinez leads the team with three home runs.

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR BETHUNE-COOKMAN
For the first time in 2023, Bethune-Cookman dropped a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball series on Monday afternoon, as the Wildcats fell in both games of a doubleheader affair at Jackson State. BCU dropped the opener 9-8, before turning around and losing the nightcap 9-1 in a run-ruled five-inning contest.
 
Jackson State scored six runs in the second inning on Monday afternoon en route to a 9-8 SWAC victory over Bethune-Cookman at JSU Softball Field in Jackson, Mississippi. The win evened the series – which was halted for two days due to field conditions stemming from inclement weather in the Central Mississippi area, as BCU took the opener on Friday evening. Bethune-Cookman scored the first two runs of the game in the top-half of the first inning. The first four batters reached safely for Jackson State in the bottom of the second inning, allowing Jace Jackson to collect a bases-loaded RBI walk to score catcher Isabel Gusman to score the first run of the game for the Tigers as they trailed 3-1. Later in the inning, Gusman drove in a pair off a single to right, pushing across Brooklyn Morris and Mari Stephens to give JSU a 6-3 lead. Trailing 7-5 in the top of the fifth, BCU received an RBI single from Ciera Clark that plated Kayla Traylor to cut into the Wildcats deficit, 7-6. In the top of the sixth, the Cats tied things up at 7-all when Haley Parks stole home. Two plays later, the Wildcats took an 8-7 lead as Joslynn Davis stole home on a double-steal with Traylor (taking second base). However, in the bottom of the sixth, Stephens registered a two-run homer to left field that gave the Tigers the 9-8 win.
 
Jackson State scored eight runs across the first two innings Monday afternoon, as the Tigers completed a doubleheader sweep of Bethune-Cookman courtesy a 9-1 run-rule five-inning contest in the second leg of the SWAC Softball doubleheader at JSU Softball Field in Jackson, Mississippi. With JSU leading 2-0 after one inning, the homestanding Tigers tallied two (2) three-run home runs in the home-half of the second inning to rush out to an early 8-0 lead. Bethune-Cookman clawed a run back in the top of the fourth as Samantha Kelley delivered her first home run of the season with a solo shot to right field, cutting into the deficit, 8-1. The run rule was put into effect in the home-half of the fourth courtesy a run-scoring triple off the end of a Marissa Medina triple to right that scored Alexis Arredondo for the final 9-1 decision. The win was collected by JSU pitcher Macie Kuppenbender, while the loss went to BCU starter Halyne Gonzalez (11-11. Gonzalez went just 1.1 innings – after throwing just 1.2 innings in the opening game of the day, as she was tagged for six runs on five hits and a walk. In all, Gonzalez allowed 12 runs across the two games on Monday.
                                                                                                                                   
QUOTES FROM COACH WATTEN
"Well, this is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. It's Bethune-Cookman. It's Florida A&M. It's a huge SWAC series. No more needs to be said. If you're not up for this one, then something is wrong."
 
"You're talking about two of the most dominant programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference over about – what – a 20-year span. Both programs are still trying to find their footing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference though. So, it's always important when these two programs meet. It's always something on the line, and not just bragging rights. It's meant conference titles, tournament seeding…everything in the past."
 
"We were on the road almost two weeks, not being able to practice outside or anything. Now, that's not an excuse because we lost against a good Jackson State team. But now, we have had some time to get back home, work on some things, and now prepare for yet another huge weekend series against a really, really good opponent."
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA A&M (17-18, 10-7 SWAC)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Camise Patterson
2023 Batting Average: .281; Runs Per Game: 4.7; Hits Per Game: 7.1; Slugging Percentage: .380
2023 ERA: 4.17; K/BB Ratio: 1.04; Opp. Batting Avg: .254
 
LAST TIME AGAINST FLORIDA A&M
Desirae Martinez went 3-for-3 at the plate while Halyne Gonzalez pitched seven shutout innings with Bethune-Cookman capturing an 8-3 series-clinching Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball victory over Florida A&M at FAMU Stadium. Bethune-Cookman put a run on the board early with Kayla Traylor scoring on a wild pitch to put BCU up 1-0 in the top of the first inning. In the second inning, the first five (5) batters reached safely for the Wildcats en route to putting five runs on the board, respectfully. Catcher Jordyn Villanueva led off the inning being hit by a pitch, and later scoring on a Joslynn Davis single to advance the BCU lead at 2-0. On the ensuing play, designated player Essence Gibbs reached safely on an error charged to the FAMU infield, allowing Shania Owens to score on the play. Davis would later come in on a wild pitch from Florida A&M reliever Lauryn Peppers. Desirae Martinez put the Cats up 4-0 with a RBI single through the left side, followed by  Villanueva being hit by a pitch to earn a RBI walk with the bases loaded, putting the Maroon and Gold up 6-0 midway through the second inning. BCU added to the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Owens delivered a two-run scoring double to left to plate Samantha Kelley and Martinez in order to increase the Wildcats lead, 8-0. FAMU would put up three runs in the home-half of the fifth, including a two-run double to right center from Kiauna Watson. The win went to Wildcats starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez (5-10), as she turned in seven innings in the circle, scattering four hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Victoria Guzman worked the opening portion of the fifth inning for the Maroon and Gold, being tagged for three runs on three hits. The loss went to FAMU starter Nadia Zenteno (4-4), as she went just one inning in the circle, surrendering five runs (two earned) on three hits. Cris'Deona Beasley went 5.1 innings for the Rattlers, allowing two runs on three hits, three walks and three strikeouts. FAMU was led offensively by Watson's 2-for-2 performance with a run scored. Bethune-Cookman used Martinez's 3-for-3 outing at the plate with an RBI and run. Owens was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and run.
 
UP NEXT
Bethune-Cookman concludes the 2023 regular season with a trip to Alabama A&M and a three-game SWAC series with the Bulldogs in Huntsville, Alabama on Friday, April 28.
 
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