DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman seniors Ciera Clark and Essence Gibbs combined for four hits and four RBIs Saturday afternoon as Wildcats Softball completed a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series sweep of visiting Mississippi Valley State courtesy a 10-0 run-rule output at Sunnyland Park.
 
Before the game, Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Laura Wattern and Athletics Director Reggie Theus honored Ciera Clark and Essence Gibbs as part of "Senior Appreciation Day". The Wildcats also paid tribute to Mississippi Valley State seniors Kaitlyn Harper and Morgan Gutierrez.
 
Bethune-Cookman (18-28, 16-8 SWAC) jumped on top 2-0 in the opening inning.
 
Essence Gibbs singled in order to eventually work her way to third, while Joslynn Davis singled as well and stole second to put two in scoring position right off the bat. Ciera Clark drove across Gibbs with an RBI groundout, followed by Brooklyn Scott's RBI single to second that plated Davis for the second run of the frame.
 
The Wildcats widened the lead to 5-0 in the second inning.
 
With two on and nobody out, Gibbs picked up her second hit of the ballgame, putting a ball past Mississippi Valley State (3-33, 1-22 SWAC) second baseman Breeauna Troup in order to push across catcher Thais Uyema from third. A Davis groundout plated designated player Joyce Bloome for the 4-0 BCU lead. And it was a Clark single to third past a diving MyKaila Fleming to score Gibbs and make it 5-0 for the Maroon and Gold.
 
The run-rule would be put into effect after five more runs came in for BCU in the fourth inning.
 
Bloome began the Wildcats at-bat with a single, followed by a stolen base. A Gibbs single – her third of the afternoon, put runners on the corners, allowing Davis to record an RBI single to short scoring Bloome.
 
Jessica Alaan punched a sac fly to deep center, far enough for the speedy Gibbs to make it 7-0. Clark followed with an RBI groundout crossing Davis. Third baseman Kendall Macauley's liner to short was mishandled by Delta Devilettes shortstop Hillary Victor, resulting in Briana Velazquez scoring for the Cats. On the same play, a throw over the head of catcher Kaitlyn Harper went to the backstop, and BCU's Scott made it 10-0, as she came in safely.
 
Halyne Gonzalez (12-14) earned the win for the Wildcats, throwing five innings and scattering three hits with two strikeouts. The loss was taken by MVSU starter Madison Bruce (0-3) as she worked two innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Morgan Gutierrez finished the final two innings in the circle for the Delta Devilettes.
 
The MVSU offense was led by Troup with a 1-for-2 day including a double.
 
The BCU bats were headlined by a 3-for-3 showing from Gibbs at the top of the order, adding three runs and an RBI to boot. Davis ended up 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, while Bloome was 2-for-2 with two runs as well. Clark ended the day 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
 
Bethune-Cookman will host Jacksonville for a doubleheader at Sunnyland Park for the final regular season games of the 2024 campaign on Tuesday, April 30, beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Softball on Twitter (@BCUSoftball) and Instagram (@BCUSoftball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.