ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman used a seven-run third inning and a two-hit Shanel Tolbert shutout to run-rule Coppin State 8-0 in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament Thursday morning.

The Wildcats (18-33) will face either Norfolk State or Savannah State Thursday at 7 p.m.

After two scoreless innings, B-CU broke the game open in the third as its first six batters registered a hit, including a two-run Michelle Banuelos-Smith double and RBI singles from Kelsey Rodney and Shamaria Engram.  Calesha Shelley and Aurelia Gamch drew bases-loaded walks and Wanda Darby scored on a passed ball to round out the scoring.

B-CU ended the game in the fifth when Shelley led off with a single and scored on a throwing error on Simone Ceasar’s bunt.

Ceasar and Engram each had two hits for the Wildcats, who saw all nine batters reach base at least once.

Tolbert posted her second shutout of the season, walking none and striking out four.