MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookmanl split a pair of games Friday at R.O.C. Park, falling to Bellarmine Knights in the opener before bouncing back with a 6-4 victory over UMass Minutewomen in game two.


Bellarmine 6, B-CU 3

The Bellarmine Knights (3-12) struck first in the second inning. A double by Kendall Gaddie put a runner in scoring position before Nicole Waters delivered a two-run double down the right-field line to give Bellarmine a 2-0 advantage.

The Knights added four more runs in the third. Consecutive singles to open the frame set the tone, and Gaddie followed with a bunt single to plate a run. Waters drove in another with a base hit up the middle. The Knights later capitalized on a Bethune-Cookman throwing error, allowing two unearned runs to score and extend the lead to 6-0.

Bethune-Cookman began to chip away in the fifth. After a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position, Emma Bradley-Tse singled and stole second, helping manufacture the Wildcats' first run. Jessica Alaan followed with an RBI single up the middle to trim the deficit to 6-2.

The Wildcats added another run in the sixth when Janel Morrisey walked and stole second before Kweenkennahlae Tauala delivered an RBI single to left, cutting the margin to 6-3.

That would be as close as the Wildcats would get. Bellarmine starter Lele Bennett (2-3) allowed two runs over five innings to earn the win, while Ally Richardson tossed the final two innings to secure the victory. Aimi Tohara-Yshiki (1-4) took the loss for the Wildcats.

Emma Bradley-Tse and Alana Cypress each recorded two hits to pace Bethune-Cookman at the plate.

B-CU 6, UMass 4

The Wildcats got the scoring started in the first inning as Emma Bradley-Tse singled and later stole second before Kweenkennahlae Tauala drove her in with a base hit to right field for a 1-0 lead.

UMass answered in the bottom half as Odyssey Torres doubled and eventually scored on a single by Riley Kairer to even the game at 1-1.

Bethune-Cookman regained control in the third. After Mia'Lani Mayo singled and Bradley-Tse was hit by a pitch, Janel Morrisey delivered a two-run double to push the Wildcats in front, 3-1.

The Minutewomen trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI double from Olivia Packard.

The Wildcats created separation in the sixth inning. A leadoff walk and aggressive baserunning set the table before Arianna Reynolds came through with an RBI single. Emma Bradley-Tse followed with a run-scoring base hit, and Alana Cypress added a sacrifice fly to cap the three-run frame and extend the lead to 6-2.

Massachusetts responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, using back-to-back RBI singles from Packard and Eliana Raposo to cut the margin to 6-4. With runners in scoring position, reliever Malaiyha Galindo entered and worked out of the jam, then tossed a scoreless seventh to earn her first save of the season.

Mia Gonzalez (1-2) picked up the win, allowing four runs over five innings. Galindo recorded the final five outs to secure the victory.

Emma Bradley-Tse led the Wildcats offensively, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Kweenkennahlae Tauala and Janel Morrisey each added two hits in the win.

The Wildcats look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season as they take on the UIC Flames. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at R.O.C. Park.
 


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