DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Halyne Gonzalez pitched a complete-game, one-hitter Friday afternoon in helping push Bethune-Cookman to an 8-0 win over Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponent Mississippi Valley State in the first of a three-game league series taking place at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.
 
Bethune-Cookman (11-20, 4-2 SWAC) struck early with four runs in the home-half of the opening frame and added four more in the fourth to secure the run-rule victory over the Delta Devilettes.
 
The Wildcats wasted little time taking control in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Senior third baseman Shania Owens drew a leadoff walk before classmate Joslynn Davis laid down a bunt single. Emma Bradley-Tse followed with another bunt single, driving in the speedy Owens for the game's opening run. Kendall Macauley, playing first base defensively for the Maroon and Gold, then delivered a two-run single to center field, scoring both Davis and Bradley-Tse to extend the lead to 3-0, respectfully.
 
After Macauley stole second and advanced to third, Briana Velazquez singled to her counterpart in the field in order to plate Macauley, making it 4-0 in favor of the Cats.
 
Mississippi Valley State (2-19, 0-7 SWAC) collected its lone hit of the afternoon in the third inning when right fielder Taniya Partee produced a one-hit single past the glove of Owens at third base The Delta Devilettes threatened with runners at second and third, but the rally ended when Kelsey Kaluna-Thomas flied out into a double play, as right fielder Joyce Bloome delivered a strike to Thais Uyema behind the dish for the tag on MyKaila Fleming.
 
The Wildcats applied the run-rule with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Bloome led off with a single and stole second before Owens doubled down the left field line to drive her in. Davis followed with a single, and an error allowed Owens to subsequently score. After Davis and Bradley-Tse executed a double steal, Macauley delivered her second hit of the day – an RBI single that drove in Davis. Bradley-Tse later scored on Velazquez's RBI groundout to cap the scoring.
 
Halyne Gonzalez (7-13) spun a gem in the pitcher's circle, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out six batters over five innings. MVSU's Ashtyn Clark (1-5) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in four innings of work.
 
Macauley led the Wildcats' offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a stolen base. Davis added two hits, two stolen bases and scored twice from her centerfield position in the field, while Owens contributed a double, an RBI, and scored twice herself.
 
The two teams meet back at Sunnyland Park for a series-ending doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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