DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A late-innings collapse doomed Bethune-Cookman Softball on Saturday afternoon, as Florida A&M rallied to score five runs in the eighth inning and secure a series win as the teams split a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) doubleheader at Sunnyland Park. Bethune-Cookman won the first game 3-1, before suffering a 7-2 setback in eight innings in the nightcap.
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN 3, FLORIDA A&M 1
Angelina Badalament pitched a one-hitter on Saturday afternoon in helping Bethune-Cookman even the series with visiting Florida A&M on the strength of a 3-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Florida A&M (13-15, 9-2 SWAC) scored its lone run of the game in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
Nyah Morgan kicked off the frame with a double to left, and later working her way over to third on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Kayla Alexandre would plate the Rattlers catcher with an RBI groundout to Jessica Alaan at second.
 
Bethune-Cookman (11-20, 9-2 SWAC) would quickly respond with two runs in the bottom-half of the inning.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, shortstop Briana Velazquez recorded a sacrifice fly to centerfield, pushing across Brooklyn Scott to tie the game at 1-1. The Cats took the lead on the ensuing at-bat when Joyce Bloome's dribbler to shortstop was mishandled, and BCU third baseman Shanai Owens came in for the score.
 
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Velazquez drew a bases loaded walk to bring in catcher Thais Uyema and give BCU a 3-1 advantage.
 
In the top of the seventh, relief pitcher Halyne Gonzalez picked up her second save of the season shutting the door on the Cats victory with a 1-2-3 inning.
 
For BCU, Badalament pitched six innings, allowing just one run on one hit, five walks and striking out three. In the win, she upped her record to 4-6 for the season. The loss went to FAMU starter Samantha Smith, dropping her to 6-8 for the season as she worked five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks.
 
BCU's offense was sparked by four different batters with a hit, including Velazquez with a 1-for-1 showing and two RBIs.
 
FLORIDA A&M 7, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 2 (8 innings)
Florida A&M scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning to win the second game of a doubleheader and secure the series win from Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball action at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
With the game tied 2-2 after seven innings, Florida A&M (14-15, 10-2 SWAC) accumulated six of the team's 13 hits in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Nyah Morgan singled to begin the at-bat for the Rattlers in the extra inning, eventually working her way to third on an error and a passed ball. Shortstop Amaya Gainer's single off the glove of Shanai Owens at third scored the go-ahead run, followed by Gainer scoring on the play courtesy an error by the Bethune-Cookman outfield to put the Rattlers up 4-2. A Watson double down the right field line added to the lead ion scoring teammates Blasingan and Samantha Smith.
 
Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Bethune-Cookman (11-21, 9-3 SWAC) loaded the bases with one out, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize as a force out at the plate and a groundout to short ended the contest.
 
For the Rattlers, they scored all seven runs in the seventh and extra inning, as well as posting 10 hits in those two innings, respectively.
 
BCU led 2-0 in the top of the seventh when FAMU pinch hitter Kayla Aldridge singled and Gainer doubled to score Aldridge and cut the FAMU deficit at 2-1. A two-out, bases-loaded walk to second baseman Kiauna Watson would score Gainer and knot the game at 2-all.
 
The Cats scored the first run of the game in the home-half of the second as shortstop Briana Velazquez singled back up the middle to drive across Owens for the 1-0 lead.
 
The advantage doubled in the bottom of the sixth after Brooklyn Scott singled and Ciera Clark doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Pinch runner Kylee Sandino would score to make it 2-0 in favor of the Maroon and Gold off a passed ball by FAMU catcher Nyah Morgan.
 
FAMU's Zoryana Hughes (8-2) recorded the win in pitching a complete game with two runs allowed (one earned) on 10 BCU hits, one walk and three strikeouts. The loss went to BCU relief pitcher Angelina Badalament (3-7) in an inning of work in the circle, surrendering four unearned runs on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts. BCU starter Halyne Gonzalez went seven innings in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits, and two strikeouts.
 
FAMU's offense was powered by Nyomi Jones with a 2-for-5 effort at the dish, as well as Gainer with a 2-for-3 showing, adding two runs and two RBIs. Bethune-Cookman used four players with a multi-hit game, including Clark (2-for-3) and Velazquez (2-for-4, one RBI).
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to action Friday, April 5, as the Wildcats travel to Mississippi to take on Jackson State in a three-game league series.
 
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