GULFPORT, Miss. – Bethune-Cookman could only manage three hits Wednesday evening as the Wildcats suffered an 8-0 defeat to Eastern Division No. 2 seed Jackson State in a winner's bracket matchup in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Tournament at Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Mississippi.
 
Jackson State (27-22) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as the Tigers got to Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Halyne Gonzalez early. First baseman Meah Almaraz plated Ka'Liyah Gipson with an RBI single back up the middle, after the Tigers leadoff hitter walked to begin the JSU at-bat, putting her side up, 1-0 in the process.
 
The lead swelled to 2-0 in the home-half of the third when third baseman Jace Jackson led off with her sixth home run of the year, sending a ball clear the wall in left.
 
Bethune-Cookman (22-30) had its best chance to score in the top of the third frame as the Wildcats loaded the bases on Jackson Stater starter Jorgina Gant. Thais Uyema walked with one out, setting the stage for senior right fielder Joyce Bloome to line a single back to the circle. A Joslynn Davis single ensued to load the bases for the Cats.
 
However, Gant would settle to induce back-to-back outs and leave the bases loaded for the Maroon and Gold. In all, B-CU left five runners aboard on the night.
 
In the fourth inning, JSU plated six runs to put the run-rule into effect.
 
Jackson drove in a pair with a single up the middle past the glove of relief pitcher Alyssa Lopez, scoring both Gipson and Ariana Murillo, and advancing the Tigers lead at 4-0. The inning was also highlighted by an Almaraz RBI single, as well as catcher Kristina Carlson plating a run with a single of her own.
 
The win went to Gant (9-6) as she registered the complete game effort, striking out two and walking two with just three hits scattered across five innings. The loss went to B-CU starter Halyne Gonzalez (10-18) as the senior right-hander lasted just two innings on the evening, allowing two runs on four hits, one strikeout and three walks. Lopez finished the final two innings in the circle for the Maroon and Gold, being tagged for six runs (three earned) on five hits, three strikeouts and one walk.
 
The JSU offense was led by Jackson's 3-for-3 performance with three RBIs and two runs, including her solo homer in the third. Gipson finished 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored, and Almaraz was 2-for-2 with two RBIs as well.
 
For Bethune-Cookman, it was Bloome, Davis and Aysiah Gonzalez tallying hits in the contest, respectively. For Gonzalez, it was her second double of the campaign.
 
The Wildcats now face Prairie View A&M in an elimination game on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT).
 
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