DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kendall Macauley delivered her second home run of the season Tuesday evening as Bethune-Cookman fell to visiting Mercer 10-4 in nonconference softball action at Sunnyland Park.
 
Trailing 4-0 midway through the fourth inning, Bethune-Cookman (6-17) countered with four runs in the home-half of the frame to knot the score.
 
Shania Owens began the at-bat with a single, followed by an Aysiah Gonzalez knock up the middle to put two on for Fayetteville, North Carolina Kendall Macauley. The senior third baseman powered out a three-run homer – her second round-tripper of the season, to deep left center bringing the Wildcats to within 4-3 with nobody out. An Emma Bradley-Tse single through the left side past the glove of Mercer shortstop Emma Dorval scored Alana Cypress from third as the Cats had the bases loaded, and the game stood tied at 4-4.
 
An error charged to the Bethune-Cookman infield began the Mercer (11-9) at-bat in the top of the fifth, allowing leadoff hitter and centerfielder Hallie Langford to reach safely at the top of the lineup. After a Parris Wiggins single, third baseman Tori Hedgecock knocked out a three-run home run to straightaway center field, putting the Bears back up, 7-5.
 
Hedgecock would begin the seventh inning with a solo home run – her second of the day and fifth of the season, advancing the Bears lead, 8-4. The visitors added two more insurance runs in the frame courtesy an Avery Barton two-run scoring double to the wall in center, producing the final 10-4 score line.
 
With the two teams locked in an early pitcher's duel between B-CU's Halyne Gonzalez and Mercer's Grace Jones, the Bears cracked the scoring column first with four runs in the top of the fourth.
 
With the bases loaded and one away, Jones drew a six-pitch walk to score Langford and put the Bears up, 1-0.
 
Laura Vigna followed a play later, driving in a pair with a double off the wall in center, allowing Kiki Daniels and Hedgecock to cross on the play. The Bears lead would swell to 4-0 when Emma Dorval knocked in Jones with a single through the left side past a diving Briana Velazquez at shortstop.
 
The win went to starter Jones in the circle, throwing four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts. She upped her record to 2-1 on the campaign, while B-CU reliever Sofia Vallejos-Coleman dropped to 0-3 accepting the loss out of the bullpen. The sophomore worked 2.2 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
 
B-CU starter Halyne Gonzalez did not factor into the decision despite pitching 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on two hits, three walks and one strikeout.
 
The save was taken by Bears reliever Gabby Ellis, picking up her first of the year, in working the final three innings, scattering two hits and striking out three against two walks. B-CU sophomore Alyssa Brady finished the game in the circle for the Cats, pitching an inning, allowing one run on two hits and striking out a batter.
 
The Bears offense was led by Hedgecock's two-home run evening, as she finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
 
B-CU was led offensively by Macauley's 2-for-4 evening with her homerun, as she bagged three RBIs and scored one. Aysiah Gonzalez, playing first base for the Cats in the game, posted a 2-for-4 night as well at the dish.
 
The Wildcats open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play with a three-game series away to Jackson State beginning with a single game Friday, March 7, in Jackson, Mississippi. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT).
 
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