DeLAND, Fla. – Halyne Gonzalez went the distance in the circle Friday morning as Bethune-Cookman Softball fell to Creighton 2-0 in the opening game of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field on the campus of Stetson University.
 
Creighton (4-2) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a two-out, two-run homer to left field from Alyssa Gappa. Also scoring on the play was Lily West after the Blue Jays catcher singled in her at-bat.
 
The Blue Jays threatened again with a deep shot to center field before junior Joslynn Davis leaped and brought a ball back over the fence with a catch up and over the wall.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-5) worked a runner into scoring position in the bottom-half of the fourth with a standup double off the wall from catcher Thais Uyema. However, Blue Jays pitcher Jena Lawrence kept BCU off the scoreboard with Creighton right fielder Mikayla Chairez's diving catch to end the inning.
 
The Wildcats threatened again in the bottom of the seventh when Briana Velazquez reached on a strikeout wild pitch, allowing pinch hitter Ciera Clark to step to the plate with two outs. Creighton relief pitcher Natalia Puchino got the strikeout to end the game.
 
The win went to the Blue Jays' Lawrence (1-0) as she went four innings in the circle, allowing just one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. The loss was taken by Gonzalez (1-3) as she went the distance in allowing two runs on eight hits scattered, four strikeouts and one walk.
 
BCU was led at the dish by second baseman Jessica Alaan as she went 1-for-2 at the dish. Three different Blue Jays had two hits apiece with Gappa going 2-for-3 with the run scored and two RBIs.
 
The Cats return to action at 12:15 p.m. in the second game of the day against Colgate back at Patricia Wilson Field.
 
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