MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Jessica Alaan and Briana Velazquez combined for four hits Saturday, and pitcher Alyssa Lopez threw a two-hitter, but Bethune-Cookman dropped both games of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball doubleheader away to Alabama State at Williams Softball Complex in Montgomery, Alabama. The Wildcats fell 2-1 in eight innings in the first game, followed by a 10-6 setback in the nightcap.
 
ALABAMA STATE 2, B-CU 1 (8 INN.)
Alabama State staged a dramatic eighth inning rally to defeat Bethune-Cookman 2-1 in the opening game of Saturday's SWAC Softball doubleheader at the Williams Softball Complex in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
Jaibriel Terrell's fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth inning brought home Alana Scott with the winning run, helping homestanding Alabama State (7-26, 5-7 SWAC) overcome a stellar pitching performance from the Wildcats' Alyssa Lopez.
 
The victory clinched the series win for the Hornets, despite being outhit 7-2 by Bethune-Cookman (13-22, 6-4 SWAC) in the game, respectfully.
 
Mason Quinnie earned the win for the Hornets, improving to 3-6 on the season after pitching six shutout innings in relief. Quinnie scattered just three hits while striking out two and walking three in her 85-pitch effort. Lopez (5-4), a senior from Fontana, California, suffered the tough loss for the Maroon and Gold despite allowing just two hits and one earned run over 7.1 innings in the circle. The right-hander walked six and struck out one, throwing 121 pitches before surrendering the game-winning run in the eighth.
 
For the second consecutive game, Bethune-Cookman struck quickly in the first inning.
 
Third baseman and senior Shania Owens led off with a single and stole second base. After senior centerfielder Joslynn Davis singled and advanced to third on the throw, junior left fielder Emma Bradley-Tse lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Davis and giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
 
Alabama State answered in the fifth inning when Makenzie Owens singled and eventually scored on Brooke Ramsey's sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1 on an unearned run following a Bethune-Cookman throwing error.
 
The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the eighth.
 
Hornets shortstop Scott led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second when designated player Leah Richardson was hit by a Lopez pitch. After a sacrifice bunt was successfully laid down by Ayana Frank to move the runners to second and third, Terrell's fielder's choice brought Scott home with the winning run.
 
Jessica Alaan led the Wildcats offense with two hits, including a double in the eighth inning. Briana Velazquez also collected two hits for the Wildcats, who left nine runners on base.
 
Kaitlyn Hill started for Alabama State, allowing one run on four hits in two innings before giving way to Quinnie, who kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
 
ALABAMA STATE 10, B-CU 6
Alabama State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull away for a 10-6 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the second game of a SWAC Softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Williams Softball Complex in Montgomery, Alabama. With the win, the Hornets completed the series sweep of the visiting Wildcats.
 
Alabama State (8-26, 6-6 SWAC) pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of two Bethune-Cookman errors to secure the win.
 
The homestanding Hornets jumped out to an early lead, scoring single runs in the first and second innings, respectively. Second baseman Mickey Coslor drove in Bailee Williams with an RBI single in the second to give the Hornets a 2-0 advantage.
 
Bethune-Cookman (13-23, 6-5 SWAC) got on the scoreboard in the third inning when shortstop Briana Velazquez doubled and later scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
The hosts responded immediately with a three-run rally in the home-half of the third.
 
Talee Sims, the Hornets third baseman, delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double down the right field line, scoring Ayana Frank, Jaibriel Terrell and Bailee Williams to extend the lead, 5-1. ASU added another run in the fourth when shortstop Alana Scott reached on an error and scored on a two-out single by designated player Leah Richardson, making it 6-1.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Wildcats mounted a charge in the sixth.
 
Joslynn Davis singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by designated player and freshman Molly Blackwood. Emma Bradley-Tse, who had singled earlier in the inning, came home on Velazquez's RBI single to narrow the gap, 6-3.
 
However, once again it would be the Hornets responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
JaNiyah Boykin kicked things off with a single and later scored on Frank's base knock to right center. Scott crossed the plate on a fielder's choice, and Frank scored on Sims' infield single. The Hornets capped the inning when Makenzie Owens drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Terrell, extending their lead to 10-3.
 
B-CU refused to go quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Wildcats right fielder Joyce Bloome singled and scored on Bradley-Tse's RBI double. Kendall Macauley and Bradley-Tse both came home on a two-base error by Alabama State right fielder Makenzie Owens, cutting the final margin to 10-6.
 
Kohana Pousson (5-9) earned the win for Alabama State – her second of the weekend overall, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing six runs, though only one was earned due to four Hornets errors. Kaitlyn Hill recorded the final out to earn her first save of the season.
 
Halyne Gonzalez (7-15) took the loss for Bethune-Cookman, surrendering eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits over 5.1 innings. Alyssa Brady, a sophomore from Virginia, allowed two runs in relief.
 
Sims led Alabama State offensively, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Five Hornets recorded multi-hit games, with Coslor, Scott, Frank and Williams each collecting two hits.
 
Bradley-Tse and Velazquez paced the Cats with two hits apiece. Velazquez drove in a run, while Bradley-Tse and Blackwood each contributed an RBI.
 
The Cats return home Friday, April 4, when opening a three-game SWAC series to Alabama A&M at Sunnyland Park beginning at 5 p.m.
 
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