GULFPORT, Miss. – Bethune-Cookman used a pair of early rallies to eliminate Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-2 on Tuesday afternoon in the SWAC Tournament at the Gulfport Sportsplex.
The Wildcats struck first in the opening inning. Emma Bradley-Tse reached on a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Alana Cypress to give Bethune-Cookman a 1-0 lead.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered in the second inning. Rheagan Montgomery singled to open the frame before Lyric Perry added a base hit and Ariana Gonzalez brought home the tying run with a sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.
Bethune-Cookman responded with a four-run second inning to take control of the game. Mia'Lani Mayo delivered an RBI single before the Wildcats capitalized on a throwing error by UAPB to score three additional unearned runs and build a 5-1 advantage.
The Wildcats added two more runs in the third inning. Alana Cypress opened the inning with a single before Kween Tauala reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error that allowed Cypress to score. Jessica Alaan later added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-1.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff threatened several times throughout the middle innings, but Mia Gonzalez worked out of trouble and kept the Golden Lions off the board.
The Golden Lions picked up one final run in the seventh inning when Lyric Perry hit a solo home run to center field, but Bethune-Cookman closed out the 7-2 victory.
Gonzalez earned the complete-game win for the Wildcats, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one. Kaydrian Fields was charged with the loss for Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Bethune-Cookman will play the loser of tonight's game between Southern and Florida A&M tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST.
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