DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Softball will look for a quick response from last week's sweep as they take on the Florida A&M Rattlers for a three-game set at Sunnyland Park.



Friday + Saturday, March 27-28
Opponent: Florida A&M (16-14, 7-2)
Time: 5 p.m. | 1/3 p.m. (DH)
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Sunnyland Park
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork
Listen: https://bcuathletics.com/sports/2024/11/13/Cateye-Network-Radio.aspx
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary

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.

The Rattlers are off to a hot start in SWAC play. They are 7-2 with series wins over Alabama State, Mississippi Valley State, and Jackson State. Most recently, they suffered a close loss to Auburn 8-3 on Monday.

FAMU ranks fifth in the league in batting average, hitting just under .300 as a team. They sit third in the SWAC in home runs, second in doubles, but they also rank second in strikeouts.

Keeleigh Spooner has been the team's best hitter. The senior's batting average sits just under .400 and she has managed seven home runs and 36 RBI, ranking top ten in both categories.

The pitching staff has accumulated the third lowest ERA in the league at 4.34. They are allowing a .280 batting average and have only given up seven home runs this season.

Zoryana Hughes leads the team in innings and starts. She is 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA and has recorded 30 strikeouts and 30 walks. The junior has also tallied four complete games and one save.



The Wildcats have gotten the better of the Rattlers throughout their softball history. B-CU is 81-60 against FAMU all-time. However, the Rattlers are on a four-game winning streak in the series.

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