TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Keeleigh Spooner's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled Florida A&M to a 4-3 walk-off win and series sweep of Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon in a pivotal Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball matchup for the visiting Wildcats at Veronica Wiggins Field.
 
Bethune-Cookman (19-26, 12-8) entered the weekend in second place of the SWAC Eastern Division, with the Wildcats needing a win on Sunday to avoid falling to the fourth place spot – with other weekend results around the league going against the Maroon and Gold.
 
Florida A&M (21-17, 17-4) trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Rattlers centerfield Ciara Maple catalyzed FAMU's decisive rally, leading off the final frame at the top of the order with her third hit of the day. Following a sacrifice bunt by Kiauna Watson and a groundout that advanced Maple to third, Amari Brown worked a two-out walk before being replaced by pinch-runner Braxtyn Battle.
 
B-CU reliever Halyne Gonzalez delivered to Keeleigh Spooner with two outs and a pair of runners in scoring position before the Rattlers designated player drove the game-winning hit through the right side between Jessica Alaan at second and first baseman Kendall Macauley, bringing home both Maple and Battle for the walk-off win.
 
The visitors struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when leadoff hitter and third baseman Shania Owens drew a walk, stole second and third, and ultimately scored on a Joslynn Davis RBI groundout. The Cats doubled their advantage at 2-0 in the top-half of the second inning as Alaan walked and later scored on Owens's fielder's choice.
 
FAMU responded with its first run of the contest in the third when Zoryana Hughes singled and scored on Amari Brown's base knock through the right side, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
 
The Cats restored a two-run edge at 3-1 in the fourth when pinch-runner India Stokes crossed safely on Davis's single to left field – her second RBI of the afternoon.
 
The Rattlers chipped away at the lead again in the fifth when Watson reached on a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jamison Townsend, and scored following an error by the Wildcats infield.
 
Hughes (10-6) earned the win in the circle with 5.2 innings of strong relief work of starter Samantha Smith, allowing just one run on four hits while walking three batters. Bethune-Cookman's Gonzalez (9-17) accepted the loss after surrendering the decisive runs in the seventh, working 2.1 innings in relief of Alyssa Lopez who started the game in the circle for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Maple paced FAMU's nine-hit attack with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Spooner finished with two hits and two RBIs. For B-CU, Davis and Joyce Bloome each collected two hits, with Davis driving in two runs as well.
 
Despite the loss, the Wildcats showcased their aggressive baserunning with five stolen bases, including three by Owens.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns home Wednesday, April 23, when the Wildcats welcome Memphis to Sunnyland Park for a single nonconference midweek contest beginning at 5 p.m.
 
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