Bethune-Cookman Splits Home-Opening Doubleheader with Niagara
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Aurelia Gamch and Michelle Banuelos-Smith each registered home runs on Sunday, helping Bethune-Cookman Softball to a doubleheader split with visiting Niagara in non-conference action at Sunnyland Park. B-CU claimed the opener, 10-2, while Niagara took the nightcap, 5-2.
B-CU (3-13) used junior Shanel Tolbert in the pitcher's circle throughout both contests, as the Los Angeles native held the Purple Eagles in check during the opener - an eventual 10-2 win for the Cats.
Bethune-Cookman started off the game hot in the first inning courtesy a Gamch solo shot to left - her first home run of the season.
Niagara (2-7) countered in the top-half of the third when centerfielder Katelyn Gruarin kick-started the frame with a single, followed by Connal Kelly's single to third and a Brittany Richberg fielder's choice that put runners on the corner with two outs. Gruarin would come across to score from third as Richberg faked a steal of second base. B-CU catcher Melissa Berouty's throw was high to Gamch who was covering second, allowing Gruarin to swipe home on the throw.
The Cats quickly answered with two scores in the home-half of the frame.
Sophia Ortega began the at-bat with a single, while advancing to second via sacrifice bunt from Breanna Chavez. Ortega and teammate Calesha Shelley both scored two plays later on a wild pitch from Kim Bryson.
Bryson was relieved after three innings pitched, surrendering four runs (all earned) on four hits and walking two. She was replaced in the circle by Sydney Smyers who went the final frame, allowing six runs (four earned) on two hits and walking four batters.
Niagara pitcher Jennifer Sansano closed out the complete game and picked up the win allowing just two unearned runs on five hits and tallying a game-high 10 strikeouts. With the win, she evened her record at 2-2 on the campaign.
The loss went to B-CU's Tolbert who dropped to 2-9 on the year.
Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by five batters each recording hits, including Berouty who also added her run in the fourth. Chavez would finish 1-for-2 at the dish, while Gamch, Ceasar and Rodney rounded out the hits column for the Maroon and Gold.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
Hornets Fall To Bonnies In N. Florida Tournament Consolation Game
Jacksonville, Fla.- St. Bonaventure broke a 5-5 tie with three runs in the eighth inning en route to an 8-5 win over Delaware State in the North Florida Osprey Tournament consolation game today. The Hornets led 4-2 earlier in the game, and tied the contest at 5-5 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
St. Bonaventure opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning.
Delaware State (1-7) answered with two in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Jess Madrid drew a walk to lead off the inning. Nicole Gazzolla followed with a single to give the Hornets runners at first and second. Two batters later, Rochelle Sablay was walked to load the bases. The Hornets scored their first run on a ground out by Jordan Stamps; and pulled ahead 2-1 on a two out error by the Bonnies.
Delaware State had the bases loaded when the inning ended.
St. Bonaventure scored a run in the second to tie the game at 2-2.
The Hornets regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Sablay started the rally with a one-out single. Stamps followed with a single and Stephanie Martello reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Sablay scored on a sacrifice fly by Jen Fischbach to give DSU a 3-2 lead. The Hornets opened up a 4-2 lead on a bases loaded walk by Ashley Bennett in the inning.
St. Bonaventure responded with three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Bonnies had three hits and were aided by two Delaware State errors in the inning.
The Hornets were still down when they came to bat in the sixth. Madrid and Gazzolla each singled to lead off the inning. Kelsey Doherty followed with a single to score Madrid with the tying run. DSU left two runners on base in the inning.
St. Bonaventure scored three runs in the seventh to take the lead for good. Hali Enderby drove in the go-ahead run on a one-out double.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
UMES Concludes Tiny Laster Tourney With Loss To Devilettes
IRONDALE, Ala. -Maryland Eastern Shore concluded play in the 6th Annual HBCU Classic Tiny Laster Tournament with a loss 5-0 to Mississippi Valley State on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, UMES ends the event with a 0-4 record. The maroon and gray loss was also the second to MVSU in the past three days.
UMES (3-8) was led by sophomore Morgan King, who walked and had the lone hit for the women. The Lady Hawks had six different players record walks in the game as MSV pitcher, Aliciz Lorenz, was effectively wild throughout. Senior Carmen Gurrola went the distance again for UMES as she fanned five and walked one in seven innings. Gurrola scattered 10 hits and allowed just four earned runs.
The Lady Hawks found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after one inning of play. After a scoreless second, Mississippi Valley upped its lead to two runs, but the UMES offense would wake up in its portion of the inning. King singled to lead off the inning and was moved over on a one-out walk to freshman Trenece Nash. Lorenz bared down and induced a pop-out from freshman Emily Diseroad , before fanning the final batter of the inning.
UMES would put two runners in scoring position over the next few innings, but could not get any runs across on Lorenz.
Lorenz finished with the complete-game shutout, where she fanned eight and allowed just one hit in seven innings. She was backed offensively by Alex Robertson (3-for-4, two runs) and Nicole Burr (2-for-4) as the pair each hit homers in the contest. The Devilettes had six players hit safely against UMES, three of which had multi-hit games.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
NSU Goes 1-1 on 2nd Day of Spartan Classic
NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Marist by an 8-6 score, but Delaware broke open a close game with a big seventh inning in a 12-4 win over the Spartans Sunday during the second day of the Spartan Classic at the NSU Softball Field.
NSU got a measure of revenge against Marist a day after the Red Foxes handed the Spartans a nine-run loss. Norfolk State had the early lead on Delaware, but the Blue Hens turned a one-run lead into a huge advantage in the last inning of the last game of the tournament.
Junior catcher Kathy Cortez led the Spartans (4-6) against Marist, driving in four runs on a pair of hits. Senior Gipsy Ramirez knocked in two against Delaware, but a pair of home runs by the Blue Hens doomed the Spartans late in the game.
Against Marist (2-2) and with the score tied at 6-6, NSU put runners on the corners with no outs in the seventh. Cortez lined one into center field to score the first run, and after the Spartans loaded the bases, freshman Heather Dunning sent a sacrifice fly to a backpedalling left fielder for an 8-6 lead.
Junior Jamie Schulle picked up the win after allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief.
Alyssa Zahka went 3-for-4 with two RBI for Marist.
Moriarty lined a shot into right-center field in the bottom of the fourth against Delaware (10-3), and one out later sophomore Haley Ward lofted one into left and took second on the throw home to put runners in scoring position. Ramirez hit one over the head of Tori Conrad at second to plate both and give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
Delaware, though, scored five in the sixth, thanks in part to a two-run home run from Gina Knutson as well as two run-scoring singles.
NSU cut the deficit to one, 5-4, in the bottom of the sixth after Cortez and sophomore Liz Riley each hit RBI singles into the outfield gaps. The wheels fell off the bus, however, in the seventh after Delaware scored seven. A grand slam from Jessica Grisler and a two-run single off the bat of Lisa Stacevicz did most of the damage, and all seven runs were unearned.
Schulle (4-5) took the loss, while Kiersten Coffman (4-0) struck out eight and allowed nine hits and four earned runs in all seven innings for Delaware.
In the other games on the day, Marist broke open a tight contest in the later innings during a 10-1 win over Army, while the Black Knights rebounded to defeat Delaware, 4-2.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
SSU Defeats Alabama A&M, Wins MEAC/SWAC Challenge
IRONDALE, Ala. -Savannah State defeated Alabama A&M 4-3 to close out the 6th annual HBCU Softball Classic Tiny Laster Tournament in Irondale, Alabama on Sunday.
With the win, the Lady Tigers finished the tournament at the top with a 3-1 record, claiming the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) / Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament title. The team was awarded a trophy in ceremonies on Sunday.
The Lady Tigers only loss came at the hands of Mississippi Valley State on Friday, as the Devilettes edged out a 5-4 win. SSU defeated Tennessee State 8-4 and Grambling State 11-3 on Saturday.
SSU escaped a late rally from Alabama A&M on Sunday, as senior Madison Hedderly propelled the Lady Tigers to the close victory with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Hedderly allowed three earned runs on five hits, walking four in seven innings of work.
From the plate, freshman Michaela Patton and junior Megan Uhrman led the Lady Tigers with two hits apiece.
After a scoreless first inning, SSU broke the drought in the bottom of the second. Hedderly blasted a home run to left, scoring Torrian Wright who reached on an error. Uhrman plated Tiffany Taylor on a single to left after Taylor reached on a fielder's choice, lifting SSU to a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Patton was scored when Wright walked with loaded bases. Patton reached on a single. The Lady Tigers held the 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Alabama A&M's Nicole Norton homered to right field, scoring Meaghan Gray and Jasmin Riley who both reached on a single, cutting the Lady Tigers lead to 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Tigers escaped with the win by forcing a line out, fly out and ground out against the first three Alabama A&M batters. Savannah State outhit the Lady Bulldogs 8-5.
For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com