Feb. 24, 2007

Final Stats

Boca Raton, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman College got a win and suffered yet another tough loss on Saturday as they participated in the second day of the annual Worth Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla.

In the day's opening game, B-CC (5-8) faced off against intrastate foe Jacksonville in the second meeting between these two teams in four days. B-CC took the single-game affair against the Dolphins on Wednesday by a count of 4-2 in Daytona Beach.

The `Cats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead heading into the home-half of the second inning. That's when Jacksonville (2-12) struck for three runs off B-CC starting pitcher Jessica Hurtado.

JU's Jillian Mirante started things off with an RBI single up the middle to plate Kelly McKeon, followed by centerfielder Sara Gordon's two-run scoring double to left field to give the Dolphins a 3-2 edge heading into the top-half of the third frame.

B-CC immediately responded with two runs courtesy a sacrifice fly from catcher Andrea Thomas to bring across Christina Trimble who was standing on third with the bases loaded with Wildcats and no one out. Freshman Trashonda Coven then laid down a perfect suicide squeeze to bring in Brandi Holley.

Trailing 6-4 going into the home-half of the sixth inning, JU plated four runs to take a stunning 8-6 lead.

Mirante started off the scoring rally with a double down the left field line, and that allowed her to score on a Gordon single up the middle. Shortstop Renee LaCroix tripled to left in order to score Gordon for the tie score at 6-6.

Jensen singled two batters later to register two RBI with LaCroix and Ashley Mora. Mora reached base safely on a walk.

The `Cats would have one more run left in them in seventh inning as freshman Tameika Jonas kicked things off with a double down the right field line to get into scoring position. Shaterra Davis was walked and Holley Bussey walked to load the base path for B-CC.

B-CC would plate two runs as Trimble collected a two-run scoring single to left field to bring the score event at 8-8. B-CC took the lead as freshman Lanaya Jenkins put a single through the left side to plate Bussey and Trimble on the play, thus putting the `Cats up 10-8.

JU got another score in the ninth, but it was not enough as B-CC held off for their first win in the FAU Worth Classic.

Hurtado collected the win to up her record to 3-3 on the year, while JU relief pitcher Ashley Iveson took the loss and dropped her record down to 1-3 on the year. The save went to Jenkins--her second of the campaign.

Trimble finished as the high batter for the `Cats with a 4-for-5 outing at the plate, including two RBI and two runs scored. Breanna Shaw went 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored, while Thomas was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI of her own.

In the second game of the day, the `Cats took on the University of Illinois. It was all Fighting Illini from the get go as Illinois (7-6) jumped all over B-CC starting pitcher Lanaya Jenkins early and often.

Illinois plated five runs in the first inning and two in the second to take a quick 7-0 lead over the `Cats.

B-CC's lone run came in the third inning when Trashonda Coven reached base courtesy a walk, and then abruptly stole second to get herself into scoring position. Coven would come in to score when a fielding error charged to the Illini allowed Holley Bussey to reach base for an easy RBI.

Illinois scored five more runs in the sixth frame to take a 12-1 victory in the "run rule" contest. It was third run-rule game for the `Cats in the weekend tournament.

The Illini pounced on Jenkins for 12 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits as she fanned two batters.

On the other side of the mound, Illinois starting pitcher Ashley Wright was touched just four times and gave up just the one run (unearned) in the contest. She struck out four Wildcats and didn't allow a base on balls through the game as she went the entire way in the pitcher's circle.

Breanna Shaw was the only player to collect a multi-hit outing as she went 2-for-3 for the Chris Cochran coached Wildcats. Coven and Shaterra Davis were the other hits at the plate for B-CC.

With the loss, Jenkins lowered her record to 2-5 on the year, while Wright upped her mark to 3-1.

B-CC will be back in action tomorrow in the final day of action at the FAU Worth Classic back at the FAU Softball Field in Boca Raton, Fla. Once again, live stats will be provided through Game Tracker.