MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Ciera Clark and Briana Velazquez tallied the first and second home runs of the year for Bethune-Cookman Softball on Friday afternoon as the Wildcats split a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) doubleheader away to Alabama State at Barbara Williams Field. BCU took the opening game 10-0 in five innings, before turning around slipping 11-4 in the nightcap.
 
BCU 10, ALABAMA STATE 0 (5 inn.)
Bethune-Cookman first baseman Ciera Clark powered out the first home run of the season for the Wildcats Friday afternoon in helping lead her side to a SWAC series opening win from Alabama State 10-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Barbara Williams Field in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
Bethune-Cookman (15-24, 13-6 SWAC) plated a pair of runs in the top of the second inning as both Shanai Owens and Briana Velazquez would score on an Alabama State error. Joyce Bloome followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Thais Uyema, and BCU was on top, 3-0.
 
The top-half of the third saw the Wildcats tag another three runs on the board.
 
Joslynn Davis led off the frame with a single, as the centerfielder would score a play later courtesy of the second Alabama State (21-26, 11-8 SWAC) error of the afternoon. Ciera Clark, a senior from Port St. Lucie, Florida, would register her fourth career home run – and the first of the season, with a two-run shot to straightaway centerfield, moving the BCU lead to 6-0.
 
The Wildcats would put the run-rule into effect with four runs in the top of the fifth.
 
After leading off the inning with a single, Jessica Alaan scored the first run of the at-bat for the Maroon and Gold after Velazquez drew a bases loaded walk from ASU relief pitcher Kohana Pousson. Owens followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 8-0. An error by the Hornets infield on the Aysiah Gonzalez at-bat allowed pinch runner Kendall Macauley to score. And a passed ball from catcher Lauryn Maher would send Velazquez across the plate for the 1-0 BCU advantage.
 
BCU starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez closed the door in the bottom of the fifth for her ninth win of the campaign. Gonzalez worked five innings in the circle for the Cats, scattering four hits, four walks and producing four strikeouts in order to move her record to 9-12 for the season.
 
The loss went to ASU starter Ana Richiez, dropping her to 6-3 for the campaign, as she went just three innings in the circle for the Hornets, being tagged for six runs (two earned) on seven hits and a strikeout.
 
The BCU bats were led by Clark's 2-for-3 afternoon, including her home run. Third baseman Owens finished 2-for-2 in her at-bats, adding a run and an RBI for the Wildcats as well.
 
ALABAMA STATE 11, BCU 4
Briana Velazquez went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run Friday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman fell 11-4 in the final game of a SWAC doubleheader at Alabama State inside Barbara Williams Field in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
Trailing 5-0 after two innings, Bethune-Cookman (15-25, 13-7 SWAC) grabbed two runs back in the top of the third.
 
With Joyce Bloome working a walk to lead off the frame, and later advancing on a wild pitch, Joslynn Davis stepped up and delivered a two-bagger to put two in scoring position for the Wildcats. Kallie Earlington delivered a two-run single through the right side to bring the Cats to within 5-2.
 
BCU would plate a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, as well.
 
With the bases loaded for Aysiah Gonzalez, the Wildcats pinch hitter was hit by a pitch to register the RBI as Brooklyn Scott scored on the play in the fourth. Later in the fifth, it was shortstop Briana Velazquez powering out her first career home run with a solo knock to left in order to make it 10-4 in favor of the Hornets.
 
Alabama State (22-26, 12-8 SWAC) would score their final run of the game in the sixth as Bevily would score courtesy an error charged to the BCU outfield, thus producing the final 11-4 scoreline.
 
The win was picked up by Hornets starter Charity Bibbs (10-12), as she worked six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, three walks and two strikeouts. The loss was taken by BCU starter Alyssa Lopez (0-2), with the sophomore giving up three runs on three hits and a walk. Sofia Coleman threw 3.2 innings for BCU out of the bullpen, giving up seven runs on eight hits. And it was Ajah Mallary finishing the final 2.1 innings in the circle for BCU with one run on just one hit and a strikeout.
 
Alabama State's offense saw four players collect a multi-hit performance, including shortstop Alana Scott with a 2-for-3 game, adding three RBIs and two runs of her own.
 
BCU was led at the dish by Velazquez's 3-for-4 effort including the home run. Scott ended her game 2-for-4 with the bat, adding a run as well.
 
The two teams meet back at Barbara Williams Field for the series finale as the rubber game is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
 
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