DeLAND, Fla. – Briana Velazquez registered her first home run of the season Friday afternoon, while Alyssa Lopez picked up her first save as Bethune-Cookman Softball split a pair of games on the opening day of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field on the campus of Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. B-CU took down Wofford 6-5 in the opener, before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Fairfield in the next contest.
 

B-CU 6, WOFFORD 5
Halyne Gonzalez worked 4.1 innings in the pitcher's circle Friday morning, while Sofia Vallejos-Coleman worked 2.1 innings of relief alongside the closing efforts of Alyssa Lopez in helping Bethune-Cookman hold off a late Wofford charge and secure a 6-5 win in the opening game of the Hatter Classic at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-6) wasted no time jumping on Wofford starter Abby Greenwood, capitalizing on an error and timely hitting to plate four runs (all unearned) in the opening frame. Centerfielder Joslynn Davis sparked the offense reaching on an error and later scoring on a wild pitch from Greenwood. B-CU freshman Molly Blackwood delivered a two-run single to left center, while Thais Uyema added an RBI single to cap the inning.
 
Wofford (4-2) opened the game with a run in the top of the first with a Havalynn Abernathy two-out RBI double to the wall in left center, bringing around Brianna Stanley for the 1-0 Terriers lead.
 
With the Wildcats leading 4-3 in the home-half of the sixth, B-CU tacked on a pair of insurance runs.
 
Shanai Owens laced a run-scoring single right back up the middle off Terriers reliever Tayven Stephenson, with the ball getting past the glove of shortstop Kaytlin Greenwood in order to plate Davis from second. The Cats advantage stretched to 6-3 when first baseman Aysiah Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded scoring Emma Bradley-Tse, respectfully.
 
The Terriers plated two runs in the top of the seventh which included an RBI single from Stanley and took advantage of a wild pitch from closer Alyssa Lopez to bring the visitors within 6-5. In the end, Lopez, a senior from Fontana, California, shut the door by striking out Desirae Devine with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
 
Davis led the Wildcats' 10-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, including a bunt single in the sixth inning. Left fielder Bradley-Tse contributed two hits, while Aysiah Gonzalez reached base three times with a single and two walks.
 
Halyne Gonzalez (2-5) earned the victory in the circle, working 4.1 innings while allowing three runs on five hits and one strikeout. Sofia Vallejos-Coleman bridged the gap with 2.1 innings of relief before Lopez recorded the final out to earn her first save of the season.
 
The loss went to Wofford starter Abby Greenwood (1-2) as she worked just one inning, allowing four runs on four hits and recording two strikeouts.
 
The Terriers were led offensively by first baseman Kate Platte's 3-for-3 effort at the dish with a double, adding two runs scored.
 
FAIRFIELD 3, B-CU 1
Martina Gutierrez's third-inning two-run home run proved to be the difference Friday afternoon as Fairfield opened its 2025 account with a 3-1 win over Bethune-Cookman in the second game of the day for the Wildcats as part of the Hatter Classic housed at Patricia Wilson Field in DeLand, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-7) threatened throughout, collecting six hits to Fairfield's three, but struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, leaving six runners stranded.
 
Fairfield (1-0) pushed across two runs in the home-half of the third inning.
 
After Gillian Deans was hit by a pitch to lead off the Stags at-bat, a Danica Silvestri sacrifice bunt moved her up a bag, setting the stage for nine-hole hitter and shortstop Martina Gutierrez to power out a two-run homer to left center off B-CU starter Alyssa Lopez.
 
B-CU senior shortstop Briana Velazquez provided the Wildcats' lone run of the day with a solo home run to right-center field in the sixth inning, collecting her first and the team's first round-tripper of the campaign.
 
Fairfield led 2-1 midway through the sixth.
 
The Stags would add an insurance run in the home-half of the frame when Faith Camilleri doubled, allowing pinch-runner Caroline Walls to score a play later on Anna Paravati's single to center field. Halyne Gonzalez came on in relief for B-CU and struck out one in 0.2 innings of scoreless work.
 
The Wildcats had another scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases. Aysiah Gonzalez drew a walk, and after a fielder's choice bunt attempt, Thais Uyema and India Stokes delivered back-to-back singles. However, Fairfield's Alyssa Weinberg escaped the jam by inducing a foul out and a strikeout, leaving the bases loaded for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Fairfield starter Alyssa Weinberg (1-0) went the distance for Fairfield, allowing just the Velazquez home run and scattering six hits while striking out eight and walking one to earn the complete-game victory. Lopez (0-2) took the loss For the Cats despite a strong showing in the circle, allowing three runs on just three hits – one being the Gutierrez two-run homer, while striking out seven over 5.1 innings of work in the circle.
 
The Stags received three hits – one a piece from each of Camilleri, Paravati and Gutierrez, respectively.
 
Stokes, a freshman from Crofton, Maryland, led the Wildcats' offense, going 2-for-3 with two well-placed bunt singles. Emma Bradley-Tse, Jessica Alaan, Uyema, and Velazquez each added one hit for Bethune-Cookman, one being the Velazquez solo shot in the sixth.
 

B-CU returns for day two of the Hatter Classic on Saturday, Feb. 15, facing off for the second time in as many days against Fairfield (noon), followed by an evening contest against the host Stetson Hatters (5:30 p.m.).
 

Follow Bethune-Cookman Softball on X/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.