LEESBURG, Fla. – The Wildcats split their opening two contests in Leesburg Friday afternoon, including their first win of the season against LIU.


BCU 6, LIU 5
Bethune-Cookman (1-6) and starter Sofia Vallejos-Coleman worked around a leadoff walk by LIU (0-6) in the opening frame. Shortstop Janel Morrisey made a fantastic play, converting an unassisted double play to finish it off.

In the bottom of the first, the Wildcats were able to get two runners into scoring position but could not score. LIU's Gigi Clavel struck out Aysiah Gonzalez to end the inning.

The Sharks would open up the scoring in the second, with junior Jen Rodriguez recording an RBI double. B-CU would limit the damage from there, converting another inning-ending double play to keep within a run.

The Wildcats once again threatened in the bottom of the inning with runners on second and third. Emma Bradley-Tse then hit what appeared to be a go-ahead two-run double to take the lead, but she was called out for being out of the batter's box. The score remained 1-0 Sharks.

LIU put up a crooked number in the third after three-straight hits to start the inning. Devon Medina hit a two-RBI double to extend the lead to three. Kaylee Clarkson and Hannah Burnett tallied RBI singles to total four runs in the frame.

The Wildcats responded right away with a crooked number of their own, tying the game at five. B-CU began the third with back-to-back walks before advancing to second and third on the double steal. Aysiah Gonzalez would then drive both runners in with a double to left field. The Cats later reached on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to load the bases, and Zariah Billinger managed an RBI single. They would further take advantage of LIU's inability to find the strike zone, tying the game with two bases-loaded walks.

B-CU would score the winning run in the fifth inning after a walk and a hit-batter to lead off the frame. Jessica Alaan came up with the big hit, a single with the bases loaded to give her team the one-run advantage.

The Sharks' offense was completely shutdown the rest of the way by Mia Gonzalez. Over the final four innings, Gonzalez did not allow a hit while striking out three batters. 

Southern Miss 8, BCU 4
The Wildcats got off to a great start against the Golden Eagles, scoring two runs in the top of the first. B-CU took advantage of a Southern Miss error as Kayleigh Sutton drove in two runners with an RBI single.

B-CU set the Golden Eagles down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, with starter Aimi Tohara-Yshiki ending the inning with a strikeout.

After the Wildcats failed to score in the second, Southern Miss scored seven runs, racing to a five-run lead.  USM recorded five hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch.

Despite the deficit, B-CU quickly put the pressure back on by loading the bases in the third. But two straight groundballs ended the inning without any runs scored.

Each team had scoring opportunities throughout the next several innings, but failed to convert until the bottom of the sixth. The Golden Eagles were able to increase the lead to six after an RBI double by Nealy McManus.

The Wildcats looked to rally in the top of the seventh, getting runners to second and third with two outs. Molly Blackwood came through with an RBI single to cut the deficit to four. Alana Cypress added another hit to keep the rally going, but Southern Miss would force a groundball from Jasmine Manebo to end the game


 

Bethune-Cookman returns to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Loyola Chicago and again at 3:30 versus St. John's
 


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