JACKSON, Miss. – The Wildcats fell in both games of Saturday's double-header at JSU Softball Field, capped off by a seventh inning walk-off, earning the Tigers the series sweep.

Game 1: JSU 9, B-CU 6
Bethune-Cookman (10-20) struck first in the top of the first inning. Emma Bradley-Tse singled, stole second and later scored on Alana Cypress' two-run single to center field. Zariah Billinger also scored on the play to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Jackson State (13-12) answered in the bottom half of the inning. Ka'Liyah Gipson tripled and scored on Jace Jackson's RBI double, and Jackson later came home on a steal of home to tie the game at 2-2.

The Wildcats regained control in the second inning with three runs. Jessica Alaan scored on a bunt single by Bradley-Tse, and both she and Janel Morrisey scored on Billinger's two-run single to make it 5-2.

The Tigers responded again in the bottom of the second. Gipson came through again with a two-run single, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

After a scoreless third inning, the Tigers evened the game in the fourth, taking advantage of a B-CU error.

From there, Jackson State took control. Gabrielle Willis doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on Ariah Hill's pinch-hit grand slam to give the Tigers a 9-5 lead.

Bethune-Cookman added its final run in the seventh inning on a fielder's choice by Cypress, but the Wildcats could not get any closer.

Brooklyn Morris (4-5) earned the win, allowing six runs on nine hits in a complete-game effort. Sofia Coleman (2-4) took the loss after allowing nine runs over 4 2/3 innings.

Cypress finished with three RBIs for Bethune-Cookman, while Billinger added two. Gipson led Jackson State with three RBIs, and Hill's grand slam proved to be the difference.

Game 2: JSU 7, B-CU 6

Bethune-Cookman struck first once again in the opening inning. Emma Bradley-Tse singled, stole second and later scored on a play in which Janel Morrisey reached on an error and was picked off, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

Jackson State answered in the second inning. Gabrielle Willis doubled and scored on Nakayla Williams' RBI double, and Isabella Rivera hit a sac fly to put the Tigers ahead 2-1.

The Wildcats tied the game in the third inning when Bradley-Tse scored on an error by the third baseman, making it 2-2.

Jackson State regained the lead in the bottom of the third on Williams' RBI single to give the Tigers a 3-2 advantage.

B-CU evened things again in the fifth inning, with Morrisey hitting an RBI triple to re-tie the game.

The Wildcats took their largest lead in the sixth inning with a three-run frame. Alana Cypress scored on a passed ball, Brianna Casey hit an RBI single, and Arianna Reynolds added a solo home run to extend the lead to 6-3.

But once again, Jackson State responded in the bottom half of the sixth. Zaria Keyes hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to one.

In the seventh, the Tigers completed the comeback. Gabrielle Willis came through with a base hit to tie the game, and Brooklyn Morris later scored the winning run on Courtney Little's bases-loaded walk to secure the 7-6 victory.

Jayden Rutledge (1-1) earned the win in relief, while Aimi Tohara-Yshiki (3-6) was charged with the loss.

Williams finished with two RBIs for Jackson State, while Keyes drove in two runs on her home run. For Bethune-Cookman, Morrisey recorded two RBIs, and Reynolds' home run highlighted the Wildcats' offense.

Bethune-Cookman returns home for a series against heated rival Florida A&M at Sunnyland Park. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m.



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