JACKSON, Miss. – For the first time in 2024, Bethune-Cookman Softball suffered a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series sweep as Jackson State took both games of a Saturday doubleheader courtesy scores of 5-2 and 6-5, respectively, at JSU Softball Field. With the wins, JSU sweeps the series, as BCU drops consecutive series for the first time in the 2024 campaign.
 
JACKSON STATE 5, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 2 (Game One)
Jackson State scored four runs in the home-half of the third to run away with a 5-2 decision in the first game of a doubleheader at home to Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon at JSU Softball Field in Jackson, Mississippi.
 
With the game tied at 1-1, Jackson State (22-11, 10-3 SWAC) used a four-run third inning to break open the deadlock and secure the series win for the Tigers.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, first baseman Meah Almaraz singled past the glove of Angelina Badalament in the pitcher's circle to score Mari Stephens and push the Tigers in front, 2-1. A passed ball by Wildcats catcher Thais Uyema allowed Ka'Liyah Gipson to score. And it was another passed ball that moved in Almaraz and third baseman Jace Jackson for the 5-1 JSU advantage.
 
Bethune-Cookman (11-23, 9-5) grabbed a run back in the top of the fourth as Joyce Bloome – pinch running for first baseman Ciera Clark, after Clark was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame – stole third and came around to score on a throw to second trying to cut down Brooklyn Scott as the BCU left fielder secured her fourth stolen bag of the season in swiping second.
 
The win went to JSU pitcher Sofia Gonzalez, upping her record at 14-10 on the season, in a complete game. She allowed two runs on eight hits and a pair of walks. The loss was taken by Badalament, dropping her to 4-8 for the season in 2.1 innings pitched, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits, five walks and four strikeouts. Halyne Gonzalez finished in the circle for BCU with 3.2 innings worked, scattering a hit and collecting two strikeouts.
 
The JSU bats were limited to just here hits in the game, while Bethune-Cookman received a 2-for-4 effort at the dish by second baseman Jessica Alaan, running her hitting streak to three games. Clark was 1-for-3 to give her three consecutive games with a hit for the Maroon and Gold as well.
 
JACKSON STATE 6, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 5 (Game Two)
Homestanding Jackson State scored three runs in the seventh inning to walk-off Bethune-Cookman 6-5 and complete a three-game SWAC sweep of the Wildcats in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader at JSU Softball Field in Jackson, Mississippi.
 
Bethune-Cookman (11-24, 9-6 SWAC) fell behind early-on as the Tigers scored two runs in the opening frame.
 
The Wildcats quickly answered with four runs in the second inning – their largest number of runs scored of any inning over the series, to grab a 4-2 lead.
 
Brooklyn Scott led off the inning with a single to left, followed by a single to the same spot from catcher Thais Uyema. Two plays later, Kallie Earlington plated two with a single to center that scored third baseman Shanai Owens and Uyema, respectfully, tying the game at 2-all. A Jessica Alaan double to left later scored Essence Gibbs and Joslynn Davis to push the Maroon and Gold in front for the first time in the game at 4-2.
 
The Cats added to the lead to make it 5-2 in the fifth as Ciera Clark upped her hitting streak to four games with an RBI single to right that plated Briana Velazquez, after the BCU shortstop doubled in her at-bat a play earlier.
 
After Jackson State (23-11, 11-3) answered with a run in the home-half of the inning on a Kristina Carlson sac fly to score Jace Jackson, BCU led it 5-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, first baseman Meah Almaraz singled – setting up pinch runner Samiyyah Huckabee to steal second and work her way into scoring position. Beija Allen then doubled to left, crossing Huckabee to make it 5-4. Julie Lopez immediately followed with an RBI double of her own to tie the game at 5-5. With two outs and two on, Mari Stephens slapped a single to right deep enough to drive across Lopez for the game-winning walk-off run.
 
The win was credited to JSU's Victoria Salazar (10-5) in a complete game, as she allowed five runs on nine hits. The loss was given to Halyne Gonzalez for the Wildcats, dropping her to 7-12 for the season in allowing six runs on 12 hits, three walks and gathering four strikeouts.
 
The JSU offense was driven by Jackson and Almaraz with two hits each, the latter supplying two RBIs as well. BCU looked towards a 2-for-4 effort at the plate by shortstop Velazquez, while Alaan picked up two RBIs in a 1-for-4 showing at the dish.
 
BCU returns to action Friday, April 12, as the Cats host Alabama A&M for a SWAC doubleheader at Sunnyland Park beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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