ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman held off a late charge by Delaware State to advance to the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship game on Friday night with a 5-3 victory at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The Lady Wildcats (20-31) led 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh before a two-run home run by Sandy Hawthorne cut the deficit to 5-3. However, Rochelle Sablay flied out to center to end the game.

Bethune-Cookman scored a pair of runs in the fourth and took a 2-1 advantage into the sixth. The Lady Wildcats plated three runs on four hits in the sixth to grab a 5-1 lead.

Sabrina Anguiano (12-15) started for Bethune-Cookman in the circle. She gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out one.

Offensively for the Lady Wildcats, Iesha Waters and Sophia Ortega led the way with two hits each.

Tara Tursellino started Delaware State and worked three innings. She surrendered one run on four hits and walked one with two strikeouts. Nicole Brock (14-7) took the loss as she pitched four innings and gave up four runs on eight hits.

Hawthorne paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate for the Lady Hornets.

Delaware State concludes its season at 30-18.