TAMPA – Four different players registered hits while Halyne Gonzalez worked five strong innings in the circle Saturday morning as Bethune-Cookman Softball fell late to Michigan 3-2 at USF Softball Stadium. The game was played as part of the USF-Rawlings Invitational hosted by South Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-3) went toe-to-toe with the Big Ten giants for almost six full innings, as the Wildcats pitching staff allowed just three (3) hits on the day.
 
With the game deadlocked at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Michigan (2-1) pushed across the go-ahead run with a two-out sacrifice fly.
 
Indiana Langford singled to left to begin the Wolverines at-bat, later stealing second to work her way into scoring position. With the Michigan second baseman on third after a groundout to Jessica Alaan at second, junior Angelina Badalament took over in the circle for starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez. A Keke Tholl deep sacrifice fly to center was far enough to bring in Langford for the 3-2 game-winning score.
 
The Wildcats took the lead first in the game, breaking the deadlock with two runs in the top of the second inning.
 
With the bases loaded and one away, BCU shortstop Briana Velazquez picked up her first RBI as a Wildcat with a single through the right side to score Badalament from third. With BCU up 1-0, Joyce Bloome drew a bases-loaded walk allowing Thais Uyema to cross for the 2-0 Cats lead.
 
Michigan answered in kind with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, using a Jenissa Conway two-run homer to deep right center knotting the game at 2-all.
 
Michigan used three pitchers on the day, as starter Erin Hoehn failed to factor into the decision after allowing two runs on four hits combined with two walks and four strikeouts. The win was credited to the Wolverines' Jessica LeBeau as she evened her record at 1-1 for the season in working three relief innings and registering eight strikeouts.
 
The loss went to BCU right-hander Gonzalez as she dropped to 1-2 for the season. She tossed 5.1 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits, two strikeouts and zero (0) walks allowed.
 
Michigan's offense was led by Langford's 2-for-3 effort at the plate including a run scored. Conway had the two-run homer to finish 1-for-2 in the game.
 
The BCU offense was paced by Velazquez with a 1-for-3 effort and an RBI, as well as Uyema finishing 1-for-1 along with Alaan and Badalament each going 1-for-3, respectively.
 
The Cats conclude the USF-Rawlings Invitational on Sunday at noon when facing No. 17 Florida back at USF Softball Stadium.
 
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