DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Victoria Guzman pitched a complete-game shutout Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman evened the series with in-state foe Florida A&M on the strength of a 5-0 decision in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball contest at Sunnyland Park.
 
Bethune-Cookman (14-28, 12-8 SWAC) put three runs on the board in the bottom of the opening frame.
 
Haley Parks singled and advanced on the first of three (3) errors in the inning committed by the Rattlers defense. The BCU right fielder would come around to score two plays later when shortstop Kayla Traylor reached safely on another Rattlers throwing error.
 
The Wildcats made it 2-0 when Kallie Earlington singled in order to plate Traylor. Joslynn Davis reached safely on the ensuing play when a ball sailed past the glove of FAMU (18-19, 11-8 SWAC) first baseman Jane'a Mobley, allowing Ciera Clark to score and push the Maroon and Gold lead out to 3-0.
 
The Wildcats added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to make it 5-0.
 
Davis reached on a fielder's choice, allowing pinch runner Shania Owens to score from third as the FAMU third baseman tried to cut down Owens who was racing home for the score. A Jordyn Villanueva RBI ground out to second followed, pushing across Katelynn Perez, who was pinch running for Clark after the BCU first baseman singled in her at-bat.
 
Pitcher Victoria Guzman registered one of her best games of the season in the circle for the Wildcats, tossing a complete-game and allowing just two hits from the visitors. Guzman took the win to improve to 3-11 for the year, walking two batters and striking out four in the process.
 
In fact, the first Rattlers hit of the contest came in the fifth inning courtesy of a one-out bunt single from second baseman Kiauna Watson.
 
The loss went to FAMU starter Nadia Zenteno (7-9) who was touched for five runs (one earned) on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
 
BCU was led offensively by Haley Parks with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish, adding a run. Earlington joined Davis and Villanueva with an RBI each for the Wildcats.
 
The two teams meet back at Sunnyland Park for the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m., as BCU celebrates "Senior Appreciation Day" honoring student-athletes Elise Gibbs, Victoria Guzman, Haley Parks, Carrington Robinson and Kayla Traylor.
 
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