March 9, 2008

Box Score

Boca Raton, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman softball collected their first win of the weekend on Sunday with a 5-2 victory over Southeast Missouri State at the Miken Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla.

One day after falling to SEMO (8-9) in the Miken Classic, B-CU fought hard to take the game into extra-innings to defeat the Redhawks in one of the most thrilling games of the entire tournament.

Both teams needed extra innings just to find the scoreboard as pitching and defense was the key in this contest. B-CU freshman Allison Garcia took the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats (5-23) while SEMO looked towards the duo of starter Whitney Dupuis and Elaine Fisher to do the task for their team.

After swapping a pair of runs in the eighth inning, the Wildcats struck hard in the ninth frame behind the hitting of Garcia to help the `Cats plate four runs to take a sizeable 5-1 advantage in the extra innings.

Helping out for the `Cats was senior first baseman Brandi Holley with two runs scored in the game, as well as teammate Tameika Jonas scoring twice with a hit as well.

SEMO answered with just one run off Garcia in the bottom-half of the ninth to finish the game at 5-2 in favor of B-CU.

SEMO shortstop Megan McDonald was a blistering 3-for-4 at the dish for the Redhawks to lead the squad in batting. Meanwhile, the Wildcats of B-CU were led by Garcia's three-hit outing, as well as Holley with two hits on the day.

The win went to Garcia with a full nine-inning game as she allowed two runs (unearned) and spreading out five hits in a brilliant pitching performance. With the win she improved her record to 4-13. The loss went to SEMO's Fisher who fell to 3-3 on the campaign.

B-CU will take some much-needed time off now before taking on Tulsa at home on Mar. 19 in a single-game affair at 4 p.m. at beautiful Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Fla.