MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – After rallying from two runs down late in the game, Bethune-Cookman suffered a 5-4 extra-innings defeat to UAlbany on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Make It Happen (MIH) Games at R.O.C. Park. For B-CU, playing without three contributors on the roster due to illness/injury, the Wildcats finish the weekend 2-3 overall.
 
UAlbany (1-9) struck early with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning.
 
Great Danes centerfielder Caitlyn Frederick led off with a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third before scoring on a dropped fly ball in right field. Jenny Nardelli, running for Victoria Vilarchao, crossed the plate on Sara Anderson's single, once again, to right field in order to put UAlbany up, 2-0.
 
After adding another run in the third when Mary Kate Murray doubled home Deanna Grahek, UAlbany saw their lead cut to 3-2 in the top-half of the fourth.
 
Bethune-Cookman (6-16) first baseman Aysiah Gonzalez delivered a run-scoring triple – the first three-bagger of her Wildcats career, to plate Jessica Alaan. Kendall Macauley immediately followed with an RBI single that brought the visitors to within one, 3-2.
 
The Great Danes responded in the bottom-half in pushing their advantage to 4-2 on Christie Collins' run off a Halyne Gonzalez wild pitch. However, the Maroon and Gold once again pulled a run back to make it 4-3 in the sixth on Gonzalez's sacrifice fly that scored India Stokes, after the freshman laid down a bunt single to kick off the frame.
 
The Cats tied the game in the seventh when senior Joslynn Davis drove in classmate Briana Velazquez with a clutch two-out single to center field, forcing the game into extra innings at 4-4.
 
With the international rule in place for extras, Bethune-Cookman would have runners on second and third with nobody out. UAlbany original starting pitcher Kate Powers would induce two groundballs – including one back to the circle, as well as getting Gonzalez to strike out in order to retire the side and keep the game tied at 4-all.
 
The Great Danes would make B-CU pay in the home-half of the frame when Ava Beal started at second base as the designated runner. After Anderson sacrificed Beal to third, Kristina Langdon delivered the game-winning hit with a single to right field.
 
Kate Powers (1-2) earned her first win of the season for UAlbany, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings while striking out three. Hailey Errichiello worked two innings of relief, yielding one unearned run. Halyne Gonzalez (4-11) took the complete-game loss for Bethune-Cookman, giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts.
 
Charlotte Lomb led UAlbany's offense with two hits, while Anderson contributed an RBI single and a sacrifice bunt. For Bethune-Cookman, Shanai Owens – who subbed in from third to right as a defensive adjustment, went 2-for-4 at the dish for the Cats. Gonzalez drove in two runs with a triple and a sacrifice fly.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns home to Sunnyland Park on Tuesday, March 4, in a single nonconference game beginning at 5 p.m.
 
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