GULFPORT, Miss. – Alyssa Lopez worked 6.2 scoreless innings in the pitcher's circle, while Shania Owens combined with teammates Kendall Macauley and Molly Blackwood for seven of Bethune-Cookman's 10 hits Tuesday evening in helping the Wildcats to a 3-0 shutout upset of top-seeded Prairie View A&M in the opening game for both teams in the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Tournament at Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Mississippi.
 
Bethune-Cookman (22-29) entered the game as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Division, and Prairie View A&M entered as the No. 1 seed in the Western Division with a 21-3 league record throughout the regular season. For the Cats, it was also the first-ever win for the program against the Panthers, having dropped three consecutive to their counterparts from Texas previously with all games occurring in the SWAC Tournament.
 
The Wildcats rode the pitching of All-SWAC First Team selection senior right-hander Alyssa Lopez, who delivered 6.2 shutout innings against the favored Panthers, scattering five hits while striking out four.
 
"We came in knowing we could compete with anybody, but with complete and total respect for everything Prairie View A&M brings to the table," said Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Laura Watten. "Alyssa [Lopez] pitched wonderfully tonight, and our defense was flawless behind her. That's the formula we've been searching for all season."
 
B-CU wasted no time establishing its presence, manufacturing an early run in the first inning when junior left fielder Emma Bradley-Tse reached on a throwing error by Prairie View A&M (27-20) third baseman Dyani McKinley, and ultimately coming around to score off the end of a Kendall Macauley sharp single down the third base line. From there, Lopez engaged in a classic pitchers' duel with Prairie View's Brielle Moreno, who despite surrendering 10 hits across her complete game, repeatedly worked out of jams that could have broken the contest wide open for the Maroon and Gold.
 
B-CU All-SWAC Second Team member third baseman Shania Owens' RBI single in the fourth inning drove in Molly Blackwood, extending the lead to 2-0.
 
The Cats added an insurance run in the sixth inning to make it 3-0 following a 35-minute lightning delay that suspended play after the fifth. When action resumed, Bethune-Cookman loaded the bases before Owens delivered her clutch single up the middle to score India Stokes, who was pinch running for Blackwood.
 
Despite their regular-season success that earned them the top seed out of the Western Division, Prairie View A&M couldn't break through against Lopez, stranding 11 runners and going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on the night. Panthers centerfielder Janaiya Thomas provided a highlight for Prairie View, lacing a double down the first base line in the home-half of the fifth, but was left stranded when Reagan Green's bunt attempt resulted in a groundout back to Lopez in the circle.
 
The Wildcats played error-free defense behind Lopez. Second baseman Jessica Alaan was particularly impressive, including a leaping catch to rob McKinley of a hit on a ball knocked sharply leading off the bottom of the seventh for the Panthers.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Watten called upon reliever Halyne Gonzalez to record the final out. Gonzalez needed just four pitches to retire Mia Nunez on a groundout to second base, earning her second save of the season.
 
The victory marked Lopez's 11th win against six losses, while Moreno fell to 9-6 despite a competitive complete-game effort in which she struck out three and walked two.
 
The Panthers were led offensively by Kayla Zaid with a 2-or-3 evening at the dish.
 
Meanwhile, it was Owens charging the Wildcats offense with her 3-for-4 night adding two RBIs. Macauley extended her on-base streak to 26 games in going 2-for-3 in the contest with an RBI. And it was freshman designated player Blackwood finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Bethune-Cookman advances to face Jackson State, the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division, in the winners' bracket on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) back at Gulfport Sportsplex.
 
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