CLEARWATER, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Softball fell to a pair of nationally ranked opponents to open the 2025 campaign on Friday, as the Wildcats dropped a 10-0 decision to No. 5 Tennessee, followed by a 9-1 setback to No. 19 Nebraska at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida. The games were played as part of the NFCA Leadoff Classic presented by MaxBP.
 

No. 5 Tennessee 10, B-CU 0
Bethune-Cookman found it to be tough sledding in the 2025 season opener Friday afternoon as the Wildcats fell to No. 5 Tennessee by a score of 10-0 at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.
 
Tennessee (1-1) opened the scoring in the top-half of the first inning with five runs.
 
After being hit by an Alyssa Lopez pitch to lead off the contest, Lady Vols centerfielder Kinsey Fiedler came in to score off a wild pitch to open the scoring. Designated player Amayah Doyle later delivered a two-run homer to also plate Taylor Pannell, advancing the Lady Vols lead at 4-0. A Saviya Morgan RBI single to right brought around Gabby Leach for the 5-0 score line.
 
In the top of the second, Tennessee added two runs with a Laura Mealer two-run shot clear the wall in straightway center field, pushing the Lady Vols lead to 7-0.
 
The game's final run came in the top of the third inning with a Fiedler RBI single past Jessica Alaan at second base moving around Morgan for the 8-0 lead.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-1) used three different pitchers in the game, including Preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) First Team selection Halyne Gonzalez.
 
Erin Nuwer picked up her first win of the season for the Lady Vols, working five innings, allowing one walk and striking out eight batters. The loss went to B-CU's Lopez, dropping her to 0-1 for the season.
 
The Tennessee offense was paced by McKenna Gibson with a 2-for-4 day adding an RBI. Mealer finished 1-for-2 at the plate with her two-run scoring home run.
 
No. 19 Nebraska 9, B-CU 1
Three different Wildcats registered hits Friday evening – including freshman Molly Blackwood, as Bethune-Cookman fell to No. 19 Nebraska, 9-1 at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.
 
Nebraska (3-0) scored runs across each of the first three innings to run out to an insurmountable lead.
 
Shortstop Ava Kuszak kicked off the game with a leadoff home run to center field. The Cornhuskers added to the lead three batters later as Samantha Bland scored on back-to-back wild pitches from B-CU starter Halyne Gonzalez.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-2) threatened in the top of the second when shortstop Briana Velazquez reached on an error, but Huskers starting pitcher Hannah Camenzind settled in to eventually retire the side with no runs allowed.
 
The Huskers made it 5-0 in the bottom of the second as Camenzind singled to right to score Bella Bacon, who led off the inning with a single of her own. Abbie Squier would come around to score on a throwing error by catcher Thais Uyema. Camenzind eventually scored courtesy a wild pitch.
 
The Huskers added another trio of runs in the third inning, including Camenzind's two-run scoring triple.
 
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the fourth using freshman first baseman Molly Blackwood's RBI single up the middle to push across Preseason All-SWAC second baseman Jessica Alaan – after the sophomore reached on a fielding error in her at-bat earlier in the inning.
 
That brought the Cats to within 8-1.
 
The Huskers closed the game with the run-rule in the bottom of the fifth using a two-out Camenzind single to the pitcher's circle in order to plate pinch runner Kennadi Williams and closing the score, 9-1.
 
The win went to Camenzind (1-0) as she pitched four innings, allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits and registering three strikeouts. The loss was taken by Gonzalez (0-1), as she pitched three innings in the circle, surrendering eight runs on seven hits, two walks and a strikeout. Sophomore Sofia Vallejos-Coleman finished the game in the circle for the Maroon and Gold, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and a strikeout.
 
The Huskers offense was led by Camenzind with a 2-for-3 evening, adding three RBIs and a run scored. Bland was also 2-for-3 at the dish with a run.
 
The B-CU offense was topped by Blackwood amassing a 1-for-2 showing at the dish and recording her first collegiate RBI. Centerfielder Joslynn Davis was 1-for-3, as was teammate and right fielder Joyce Bloome going 1-for-3 at the dish.
 


The Cats turn the page and play two games Saturday back at Eddie C. Moore Complex, taking on No. 24 Mississippi State and former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Morgan State beginning at 3 p.m.
 


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