DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the second time in as many weekends, Bethune-Cookman Softball will host a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series at Sunnyland Park when Mississippi Valley State arrives for a three-game set beginning Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. The Wildcats come into the weekend with a 3-2 record in SWAC play and sporting a 10-20 overall mark on the year.
 


Friday, March 21
5 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Live Stats | Watch
 
Saturday, March 22
1 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Live Stats | Watch
3:30 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State | Live Stats | Watch
 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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▪ Freshman Molly Blackwood was named this week's SWAC Co-Newcomer of the Week after batting .750 across five games last week against Bryant and Florida A&M, respectively.
▪ The Wildcats have won four of their last six games with wins coming against Jackson State, Bryant and FAMU.
▪ When leading after four innings, the Cats have a record of 6-1 on the year. However, they hold just a 3-16 mark when trailing after the fourth frame.
▪ Senior third baseman Shania Owens is currently enjoying a career-high eight-game hit streak. She has 17 hits on the season already, surpassing her previous years' totals in just the first two months of the campaign.
▪ Senior pitcher Alyssa Lopez has struck out five or more batters in six games on the campaign. In the complete-game win over FAMU, she registered six strikeouts.
▪ Joslynn Davis is also riding an impressive six-game hit streak coming into the MVSU series. Last week, the California native pounded out six hits and scored four runs across five games for the Maroon and Gold.
▪ As a team, B-CU has accounted for 47 stolen bases, led by Owens and Davis with nine each in 10 opportunities.
▪ Thais Uyema and Aysiah Gonzalez have combined to be hit by a pitch 11 times on the year.
▪ Davis is ranked second nationally in runs saved from opponent balls hit to the outfield.
 


▪ In a series that began when Bethune-Cookman joined the SWAC in 2021-22, the Wildcats own a commanding 12-3 advantage all-time against Mississippi Valley State.
▪ The Delta Devilettes won the first two games in a series in Itta Bena, Mississippi back in March 2022.
▪ B-CU has won the last seven games consecutively, including the last four in Itta Bena.
▪ In the final second series between the two teams last year in Daytona Beach, B-CU outscored the Delta Devilettes, 23-9.
 

HEAD COACH LAURA WATTEN
"We had a great weekend against Florida A&M, and it showed how we can play if we stay locked in and believe until the very end. We stayed with the process. We stayed in the moment, despite not getting the hits we thought we could have gotten. FAMU's defense was solid, and we had to wait them out. Then, the moment happened, and we took advantage of it. I was proud to see that."
 
"SWAC games are tough, and Mississippi Valley [State] is one of those teams that always plays you strong. They have athletes that can put the bat on the ball, and they can get to balls in the outfield as well. They are going to present a few problems for us, and we have to be well-prepared for it. They can cause you a lot of problems."
 
"This is an important weekend because you have to take advantage of your home games. Winning on the road is definitely going to come at a premium this year, not that it isn't normally in this league. But I think this season, we are going to have to win our home games in the league and then play even better on the road."
 
"I'm looking for the likes of Halyne [Gonzalez] and Joslynn [Davis] to have big weekends for us. They're seniors, and they'll want to provide a spark in a way that shows it's their team, and they're the leaders. I think both players are going to put it all on the line for us this weekend, and I am waiting to see it, for sure."
 

SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (2-18, 0-6 SWAC)
Rankings: USA Today/NFCA Coaches – NR | ESPN.com/USA Softball – NR
Head Coach: Taliyah Riddick-Waters (1st season)
2025 Batting Average: .208; Runs Per Game: 3.6; Hits Per Game: 4.8; Slugging Percentage: .259
2025 ERA: 11.34; K/BB Ratio: 0.55; Opp. Batting Avg: .431
 

RECAPPING B-CU'S LAST GAME (vs. Florida A&M)
Molly Blackwood's pinch-hit, three-run double capped an incredible four-run sixth inning as Bethune-Cookman rallied to defeat Florida A&M 4-3, completing a doubleheader sweep of their SWAC rivals at Sunnyland Park.
 
Bethune-Cookman appeared headed for a split – and series setback – after visiting Florida A&M built a 3-0 lead through six innings. Alyssa Lopez earned the complete-game victory for the Maroon and Gold, scattering six hits while striking out six Rattlers over seven innings. The senior right-hander and current SWAC Pitcher of the Week allowed just one earned run in the contest.
 
The decisive sixth inning began innocently enough with left fielder Emma Bradley-Tse reaching base on a dropped fly ball by FAMU left fielder Neriah Lee. After Shania Owens flew out in foul territory, senior centerfielder Joslynn Davis singled to third base, pushing Bradley-Tse into scoring position. Kendall Macauley then reached on a fielding error by FAMU shortstop Amari Brown to load the bases with one out.
 
With the Wildcats desperately needing a spark, Coach Watten called on freshman Molly Blackwood to pinch-hit for designated player Aysiah Gonzalez. The rookie delivered the biggest hit of her young collegiate career, driving a 3-2 pitch from Hughes to center field. Blackwood's double cleared the bases, with all three runners scoring on the play as she advanced to third on the throw home.
 
Jessica Alaan followed with another double to left-center field, driving in Blackwood with what proved to be the game-winning run. All four B-CU runs were unearned due to the two FAMU errors in the inning. The late dramatics overshadowed a strong pitching performance from Hughes, who allowed just four hits over six innings. The FAMU right-hander didn't walk a batter or record a strikeout, but rather induced numerous ground ball outs after Owens' leadoff single to begin the game.
 
Florida A&M had built its lead methodically throughout the contest. The Rattlers broke through in the third inning when Kiauna Watson reached on an error by the Wildcats infield and eventually scored on another error. Jamison Townsend followed with an RBI single, plating Ciara Maple to give FAMU a 2-0 advantage. The visitors added what appeared to be an insurance run in the sixth inning when Watson delivered a two-out RBI single, plating Aniya Canty who had reached base after being hit by a pitch.
 
The run pushed the lead to 3-0 before Bethune-Cookman's dramatic comeback. Lopez showed tremendous poise in the seventh inning, retiring the Rattlers in order to secure the victory. After Lee fouled out to left field, Lopez struck out Townsend looking and induced Brown to ground out to third base for the final out.
 


Once again, the Wildcats will not have a midweek affair and will play against SWAC opponent Alabama State next weekend (March 28-29) in Montgomery, Alabama.