Bethune-Cookman defeated Delaware State, 5-4, in eight innings to win the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship title, Sunday afternoon at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The softball title was the second straight for the Wildcats and sixth overall. With the win, Bethune-Cookman receives the conference's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division I Softball Championship tournament. The pairings will be announced during tonight's selection show at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

B-CU won the first game yesterday, 7-1, to starve off elimination and force a second and deciding game in the double-elimination bracket. The two teams were tied at 2-all in the bottom of the second when the game was halted yesterday due to inclement weather.

As the two teams resumed play, Delaware State scored first in the top of the third. B-CU answered back with two runs of their own to take the 4-3 lead heading into the fourth. DSU tied the game 4-all in the fourth and the score remained the same at the end of seven innings. B-CU's Michelle Banuelos-Smith recorded an RBI single to lead the Wildcats to the 5-4 victory.

2011 MEAC Pitcher of the Year Allison Garcia earned Outstanding Performer honors.

"It pays off to win the championship," explained Garcia "No how many games and innings or how tired I was physically or mentally, this is what you do it for. I had confidence in my teammates that we would get the job done."

Wildcats head coach Chris Cochran was named the Outstanding Coach for the second time in her career.

"We were excited to play, this team really likes to compete and that is a great quality to have," said Cochran "It is not easy to win back-to-back championships and I am happy for them."

2011 MEAC Softball All-Tournament Team
Allison Garcia, Bethune-Cookman
Paige Arnold, Coppin State
Janelle Lukens, Delaware State
Casey Pomeroy, Norfolk State
Marisa Coats, Howard
Tera Gainer, Florida A&M
Sakina Smith, Morgan State
Michelle Banuelos-Smith, Bethune-Cookman
Danielle Wright, Norfolk State
Ashlyn Campbell, Delaware State
Denitia Carter, South Carolina State

Outstanding Performer: Allison Garcia, Bethune-Cookman University
Outstanding Coach: Chris Cochran, Bethune-Cookman University
2011 Runner-Up Team: Delaware State University