TAMPA –
Brooklyn Scott registered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate
Jessica Alaan from third base in moving Bethune-Cookman past Illinois State, 3-2 in nine innings at USF Softball Complex in the season opener for both teams. The game was played as part of the
USF-Rawlings Invitational hosted by the University of South Florida.
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With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bethune-Cookman (1-0) first baseman
Angelina Badalament pushed over
Jessica Alaan from second on a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. That set the stage for left fielder
Brooklyn Scott to send a fly ball to straightaway center field and deep enough for Alaan to score standing up from third.
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The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
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Badalament walked to begin the at-bat, followed by Scott's single through the left side. Two batters later,
Kallie Earlington recorded a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Badalament from third.
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Illinois State (0-1) quickly answered to tie things up at 1-1 in the top of the third.
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Hanna Hicks reached safely on an infield error, while teammate Delainey Bryant singled at the top of the order to move the Redbirds right fielder into scoring position. Kaili Chval doubled to score Hicks and knot the game at 1-all.
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The Redbirds scored another run in the top of the fifth for the 2-1 advantage.
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Bryant registered her second double of the afternoon from the leadoff position to begin the at-bat. Two batters later, third baseman Jayden Standish lined a double off the left-center field wall to move across Bryant and give Illinois State its first lead of the game.
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The Wildcats put a run on the board in the home-half of the sixth inning to tie the game for the second time on the day.
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Alaan singled to center with one out, and teammate Scott picked up the first of her game-high two RBIs with a run-scoring hit to right that drove across Alaan for the 2-2 score.
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Halyne Gonzalez (1-0), the 2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Pitcher of the Year, earned the win in a complete-game effort in the pitcher's circle. The Norwalk, California native worked nine innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and recording six strikeouts against four walks. The loss went to Illinois State's Hannah Meeks (0-1) as she worked 8.2 innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits, four strikeouts and two walks.
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The Redbirds were led at the plate by Bryant with three hits in five appearances and tallying an RBI.
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Scott led the Wildcats at the dish with a 2-for-3 effort and two RBIs.
Joyce Bloome and Alaan also had hits for the Maroon and Gold.
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Bethune-Cookman returns to action Thursday evening to take on host USF at 6:30 p.m., back at USF Softball Stadium.
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