DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman scored three runs in the home-half of the sixth inning to claim a 3-0 win from Florida A&M on Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats collected a series win in the rubber game of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) set at Sunnyland Park. FAMU won Friday's opener, only to see BCU storm back to collect back-to-back shutouts on Saturday and Sunday, respectfully.
 
It took until the sixth inning for Bethune-Cookman (15-28, 13-8 SWAC) to finally get to Florida A&M starting pitcher Lauryn Peppers, with catcher Jordyn Villanueva collecting a single to right as the first baserunner of the afternoon for the Wildcats. On the ensuing play, pinch runner Shania Owens stole second, but a collision at the bag with FAMU second baseman Kiauna Watson saw the Rattlers infielder leave the game with a back injury.
 
The substitution saw Nadia Zenteno enter the circle for the Rattlers, moving Peppers to second as a defensive replacement for Watson.
 
BCU immediately went to work on Zenteno, as Haley Parks lined a run-scoring single to center field that plated Owens for the game's opening score.
 
Centerfielder Joslynn Davis reached safely in the next at-bat on a fielding error charged to the Florida A&M 18-20, 11-9 SWAC), allowing Parks to score from second and give the Cats a 2-0 advantage.
 
The lead jumped to 3-0 in favor of the hosts when sixth-year Kayla Traylor knocked a run-scoring single to center field in order to push across Davis.
 
In a relief role, Halyne Gonzalez worked the final four innings for the Wildcats and grabbed the win to bump her record to 12-13 for the campaign. She scattered five hits and struck out one batter. Victoria Guzman, one of five BCU Wildcats celebrating "Senior Appreciation Day" on Sunday, began the game with three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and collecting one strikeout.
 
FAMU's Peppers was credited with the loss despite allowing just one baserunner in 5.1 innings of work, hit for one run and collecting a pair of strikeouts. She dropped her record to 6-8 for the season. Zenteno allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief action.
 
FAMU was led at the plate by designated player Neriah Lee with a 2-for-3 afternoon.
 
BCU was paced by Parks with a hit and an RBI. Traylor had a hit and an RBI as well.
 
The Cats are back in action Friday, April 28, as Bethune-Cookman concludes the 2023 regular season with a three-game series away to Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama.
 
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