DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman fell just short to Marist in two midweek nonconference softball games Wednesday at Sunnyland Park, as the Wildcats lost 6-5 in the opener and then 1-0 in the nightcap. For the Wildcats, the Marist doubleheader served as the final nonconference regular season contest until they continue an earlier postponed game away to UCF on April 24.
 
Marist 6, BCU 5
Maddie Pleasants' RBI single in the sixth inning proved to be the difference between the two sides Wednesday morning, as Marist claimed a 6-5 win over Bethune-Cookman in the first of two games between the teams on the day at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Marist (16-5) jumped ahead early to a 5-0 lead after two innings in the books.
 
In the bottom of the third, Bethune-Cookman (5-17) took advantage of three Marist errors to score four runs and get the Wildcats back into the game.
 
Aysiah Gonzalez, serving as the designated player for the Wildcats, began the BCU at-bat with a single to right. After Kallie Earlington walked to put two aboard, Joslynn Davis reached on a fielder's choice, while Gonzalez scored courtesy a Samantha Rogers error at shortstop when her throw to the bag at third was high in an attempt to get the force out on Gonzalez, and thus allowing Gonzalez to score.
 
On the ensuing play, pitcher Maddie Pleasants was charged with an error on a Joyce Bloome shot back to the pitcher's circle allowing Earlington to score. On the same play, Marist right fielder Lauren Morrell's throw to third was wide of Miah McDonald who was covering the bag, good enough for BCU's Davis to score and trim the Wildcats deficit at 5-4.
 
The Wildcats tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Earlington registered a run-scoring triple to the wall in right center, pushing across Briana Velazquez after the shortstop singled to begin the at-bat for the Maroon and Gold.
 
The game was tied at 5-5 after four innings completed.
 
Marist would score the game-winning run in the sixth inning when Peyton Pusey reached on an error at the top of the order for the Red Foxes. Two plays later, Pleasants' single up the middle drove in Pusey for the run, putting Marist on top, 6-5.
 
The Red Foxes plated three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded walk drawn by Rogers, as well as a pair of runs scoring courtesy an infield error charged to the Wildcats. Marist would go on to add to the lead in the top of the second as McDonald tallied an RBI double – added a Rowan Drew RBI double as well.
 
The Red Foxes were led offensively with a 2-for-4 game from Alyssa Grupp, with the second baseman also scoring a pair of runs. BCU used three hits from three different players in the form of Velazquez, Aysiah Gonzalez and Earlington, respectively.
 
The win went to starting pitcher Pleasants, bumping her record to 3-2 for the season. She worked five innings in the circle, allowing five runs (one earned) on three hits, three walks and picking up five strikeouts. The save went to Kiley Myers – her second of the season, out of the bullpen as she worked the final two innings in the circle, registering three strikeouts in the process.
 
Meanwhile, the loss went to BCU junior Angelina Badalament in relief, as the right-hander pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and a strikeout. BCU starter Ajah Mallary failed to factor into the decision after going 3.2 innings with five runs allowed (three earned) on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts.
 
Marist 1, BCU 0
A true pitcher's duel was finally broken in the sixth inning as a lone Marist run was enough to see the visiting Red Foxes compete a doubleheader sweep of Bethune-Cookman courtesy a 1-0 decision in the nightcap between the two sides at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman's Angelina Badalament and Marist's Anna Sidlowski each pitched a gem in the game.
 
In the top of the sixth, Sophia Recrosio and Peyton Pusey went back-to-back with singles to begin the Marist at-bat. After a sac bunt moved both runners up a bag, Bethune-Cookman (5-18) shortstop Briana Velazquez got the force on Recrosio at third while Miah McDonald reached on a fielder's choice. One batter later, first baseman Maddie Pleasants knocked a single back up the middle to score Pusey for the eventual game-winning run.
 
With Marist (17-5) up 1-0, the Red Foxes' Sidlowski was able to sit down six of the next seven batters she faced and close the win for the visitors.
 
Marist was paced offensively by catcher Isabella Manory with a 2-for-3 showing at the dish. And it was BCU's Essence Gibbs going 1-for-2 at the plate, with teammates Velazquez and Joslynn Davis each going 1-for-2 as well.
 
Sidlowski (8-1) got the win for the Red Foxes in a complete game, scattering five hits with a walk and pair of strikeouts. The loss was tagged to Badalament (1-6) as she allowed just the one run on eight hits and registering three strikeouts in the complete game for the Wildcats.
 
Bethune-Cookman begins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Friday, March 15, as the Wildcats welcome Alabama State to Sunnyland Park for a three-game series.
 
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