DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman welcomes in-state adversary Florida A&M to Daytona Beach this weekend for a big Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Sunnyland Park. The two "Sunshine State" opponents begin the three-game series with a single game Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m.
 

THE SCHEDULE
Friday, March 14
5 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
 
Saturday, March 15
1 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
3:30 p.m. – vs. Florida A&M | Live Stats
 


▪ Senior infielder Aysiah Gonzalez finished 5-for-6 at the dish against Bryant, adding a run and her first double of the year.
▪ Senior outfielder Joyce Bloome returned to the Wildcats starting lineup in midweek after being sidelined with illness for almost two weeks. She returned in triumphant fashion with a diving catch to save a run against the Bulldogs in the second game of the doubleheader at home to Bryant.
▪ B-CU swept the SWAC weekly awards this week with Shania Owens (Co-Hitter of the Week), Alyssa Lopez (Pitcher of the Week) and Emma Bradley-Tse (Newcomer of the Week).
▪ Kendall Macauley registered a season-high four RBIs in going 2-for-2 at the plate – including a double, in the first game against Bryant.
▪ Sophomore hurler Sofis Vallejos-Coleman worked three innings in the start of the second game versus Bryant, allowing just one unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts.
▪ Halyne Gonzalez recorded a season-best eight strikeouts in the complete-game win over Bryant, allowing three runs (one earned) on just six hits scattered.
▪ Thais Uyema is one of the SWAC's best behind the dish having thrown out 19 runners attempting to steal.
▪ As a team, B-CU has 38 stolen bases, led at the top by three (3) players with seven or more – India Stokes, Joslynn Davis and Bradley-Tse.
 

B-CU VS. FAMU SERIES
▪ Bethune-Cookman versus Florida A&M is one of Historically Black College/University (HBCU) Softball's most iconic and historic rivalries, often times throughout the years with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season or tournament title on the line in the meeting(s), at the time.
▪ B-CU leads the series by a 79-55 count dating back to 1995.
▪ FAMU ton the series between the two teams last season in Daytona Beach, edging the rubber game 7-2 in extra innings.
▪ In the last 10 meetings, the series is split at five games apiece, respectfully.
▪ The Wildcats hold a narrow 7-5 advantage since both teams moved to the SWAC prior to the start of the 2022 season.
 

HEAD COACH LAURA WATTEN
"Nothing should have to get you going, or get you fired up, or even motivate you in any way, shape or form when you see FAMU on the schedule as the next opponent. This rivalry is unique, and it has seen some amazing games in the past. I have no doubt in my mind that this weekend will be the same."
 
"We had a solid doubleheader against Bryant. Of course, we wanted to win both games, but a split with a team that hits the ball as well as they do – that is a fair result. There were still some things we can work on, as you can find or pick out from any game – good or bad. But we were able to put some things in play, and I like what we did, for the most part."
 
"It's a new staff at FAMU. So, you don't know exactly the style or way they want to play under Coach [Brittany] Beall. But we know they have a former Wildcat on staff in Jessica [Hurtado], and she can tell their newcomers about the rivalry as well, even if from the other side of the field. But it'll be interesting to see how FAMU comes out with a new coach and philosophy."
 
"You look at some of FAMU's results, and they have been right there in games with teams like Mercer, Austin Peay and Southeastern Louisiana. And they have some very good wins under their belt against the likes of Howard, North Carolina A&T and Western Michigan. They're going to fired up coming in here, and we need to show up from the very first pitch. The VERY first pitch, until the very last."
 

FLORIDA A&M (6-14, 2-1 SWAC)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Brittany Beall (1st season)
2025 Batting Average: .276; Runs Per Game: 2.95; Hits Per Game: 4.3; Slugging Percentage: .386
2025 ERA: 5.70; K/BB Ratio: 0.59; Opp. Batting Avg: .266
 

RECAPPING B-CU'S LAST GAME (vs. Bryant)
Sam Rohwer's fifth-inning three-run homer helped push visiting Bryant to a 5-3 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the second game of a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida. The two teams split the pair of games, as B-CU won the opener, 6-3.
 
Maddy Wachter went the distance in the circle for Bryant, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs (two earned) to improve her record to 5-2 on the season. The Bulldogs overcame an early 2-0 deficit to secure their seventh win and split the day's doubleheader. Bethune-Cookman opened the scoring in the home-half of the first inning when senior third baseman Shania Owens doubled – her second of the season and later scored on Emma Bradley-Tse's sacrifice bunt in the opening frame. The Wildcats extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning after designated player Aysiah Gonzalez singled, advanced on an error, and came home on Thais Uyema's single to left field.
 
Bryant began its comeback in the fourth inning when Lyndsey Brandow, serving as a pinch runner for shortstop Sam Rohwer, crossed the plate on a passed ball. The Bulldogs then took control with a decisive four-run fifth inning. After Makenna Coleman drew a walk and Bryce Clendenin singled, Rohwer blasted a three-run homer to left field, giving Bryant a 4-2 lead. Megaghan Houk followed with a bunt single and later scored on Gracie Bishop's single to center field, pushing the advantage to 5-2.
 
The Wildcats tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth when pinch runner India Stokes scored on Briana Velazquez's single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 5-3. However, Wachter closed the door in the seventh, working around a leadoff error to secure the win with the help of an inning-ending double play when Joslynn Davis flied out to center field, eventually seeing Joyce Bloome doubled up at first as the right fielder was running on contact.
 
The Bulldogs managed eight hits, with Rohwer and Houk collecting two each. Rohwer drove in three runs with her home run. For B-CU, Davis and Gonzalez each had two hits, while Velazquez went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Alyssa Brady took the loss for the Wildcats after surrendering three runs in 1.2 innings of relief, dropping her record to 0-1 on the campaign.
 


With no midweek softball on the horizon, B-CU stays in the "Sunshine State" for a three-game SWAC series at Sunnyland Park, as Mississippi Valley State descends upon Daytona Beach beginning with a single game Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. ET.
 

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