CATHEDRAL CITY, Cal. – Bethune-Cookman softball went 1-1 on Thursday in Cathedral City, including an impressive 8-7 non-conference victory against high-major Utah. The win was the Wildcats first ever against the Utes.


B-CU 8, Utah 7

Utah (8-3) struck first in the ballgame, grabbing an early 1-0 advantage after an RBI single by Mia Gomez.

But Bethune-Cookman (3-10) would quickly respond with two runs in the first to take the lead. After a walk by Emma Bradley-Tse to begin the frame, B-CU would benefit from two Utah errors to load the bases. Aysiah Gonzalez then drew a walk to score the first run, followed by a fielder's choice by Alana Cypress to grab the second run.

The Utes would answer in the second inning with two runs to retake the lead. After an error by B-CU, Utah would take advantage with an RBI single by Danika Wilson and a sacrifice fly by Hailee White.

The back-and-forth would continue as B-CU would score three runs in the bottom of the inning to snatch the lead right back. After a leadoff triple by Zariah Billinger, the Wildcats would load the bases with a chance to do some damage. With two outs, Aysiah Gonzalez came through once again with a bases-clearing double to make it 5-3 Wildcats.

After a scoreless third for both teams, Utah would get within a run in the fourth. After two Wildcat errors, Kennedy Proctor hit a sac fly to keep the pressure on.

B-CU would get the run right back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on another Utah error to extend the lead to 6-4.

After holding the Utes scoreless in the fifth, the Wildcats would take advantage of another Utah mistake in the field. After hits from Billinger and Jasmine Manebo, B-CU would score two runs on an error by the shortstop to take a four-run lead.

Despite the sizable lead, the Wildcats struggled with command in the seventh inning. Utah would reach base via the walk five times in the frame, two of which drove in runs with the bases loaded. Those combined with another RBI hit from Mia Gomez brought the Utes back within a run.

The Wildcats were unable to pick up any insurance in the sixth, but Mia Gonzalez came up big for B-CU in the top of the seventh. She set down the Utes 1-2-3 to pick up the save and finish off the one-run victory.

Rutgers 6, B-CU 0

The Wildcats put a runner in scoring position in the first inning but were unable to capitalize, finishing 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and leaving four on base.

Rutgers (6-4) struck first in the bottom of the opening frame. After a leadoff triple by Jayla Fuller, Baileigh Burtis delivered an RBI single to give the Scarlet Knights a 1-0 lead.

The Scarlet Knights broke the game open in the third inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Burtis highlighted the frame with a three-run home run to left-center, extending the lead to 4-0. Later in the inning, Sam Rohwer added a two-out RBI single to make it 5-0.

Bethune-Cookman's lone hit came in the fourth inning when Alana Cypress singled down the right-field line. The Wildcats also took advantage of a pair of Rutgers errors in the second inning but were unable to push a run across.

Rutgers added an unearned run in the sixth inning to account for the final margin.

In the circle, Sofia Vallejos-Coleman (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. Aimi Tohara-Yshiki worked the final 3 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs — one earned — on three hits with one strikeout. Rutgers starter Brooke Shifflett (2-2) earned the complete-game victory, allowing one hit with four strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.

 

B-CU will face Texas Tech tomorrow, beginning at 2:30 p.m. EST.
 


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