April 13, 2007

Box Score

West Columbia, S.C. - Shaterra Davis hit two homeruns and freshman pitcher Lanaya Jenkins collected back-to-back wins, though suffering excruciating pain in her left arm, to help Bethune-Cookman University go 2-0 on the first day of the 2007 MEAC Softball Round-Up in West Columbia, S.C. The Wildcats defeated Coppin State 22-0 in the first game, and came back to defeat Morgan State 12-1 in the nightcap affair.

B-CU (17-25, 4-2 MEAC) posted 17 runs in the third inning of the first contest as six Wildcats collected multi-hit performances against Coppin State.

CSU (0-14, 0-6 MEAC) was unable to stop a barrage of B-CU power hitting as starting pitcher Nicole Buchko was tapped for 13 earned runs on eight hits and eight walks allowed.

B-CU senior Shaterra Davis posted her second homerun of the season and shortstop Holley Bussey went 2-for-2 with three RBI in the surge for the `Cats in the third frame. Bussey's three-run homer was the start of the offensive onslaught, while catcher Andrea Thomas also posted an RBI double in the inning.

Thomas finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI.

Also picking up hits for the `Cats was third baseman Christina Trimble who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Freshman right fielder Trashonda Coven stepped up with a 3-for-4 outing at the dish with one run and an RBI to boot.

B-CU freshman hurler Lanaya Jenkins collected her fourth shutout victory of the year allowing just two hits by the Eagles and striking out five batters in a five-inning game.

Eagles' shortstop Melissa Bell and Mia Willis collected the hits for CSU.

In the second game, the heart of everyone involved in and around the B-CU softball family stopped when pitcher Lanaya Jenkins clutched her arm after sliding into home plate. Jenkins appeared to be favoring her arm before being treated by the B-CU training staff at the end of the game. Though no actual statements have been made about the extent of the injury to the ONLY remaining true pitcher on the B-CU softball team, it is clear that the injury took place to her non-throwing arm.

Though that injury is not as severe as it could be, it could present a problem, nonetheless.

In the earlier stages of the game, six more Wildcats collected multi-hit games ... all of which were two (2) to be exact.

Right fielder Breanna Shaw was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Shaterra Davis hit her second homerun of the day--third of the season, in the fourth inning. That three-run homer put B-CU on top 12-1 ... leading to the final verdict.

The Wildcats scored seven runs in the opening two innings over their opponents in the form of Morgan State (5-14, 1-3 MEAC) ... helping to keep the Wildcats perfect all-time in softball against their MEAC counterparts from Baltimore.

MSU finally got to Jenkins in the top-half of the fourth inning when shortstop Megan Jimenez singled and eventually came in to score on a Nastosha Johnson walk. The Bears collected three consecutive hits prior to that walk to load up the bases.

Christina Trimble continued her possible All-MEAC ways at the plate for the `Cats with a 2-for-3 nightcap, including two runs and three RBI. Brandi Holley and Andrea Thomas both went 2-for-3 as well.

Jenkins collected the win for the `Cats to improve her record for the year out to 12-19, while MSU's Carolynn Howard dropped to 3-7 with the loss.

Jenkins went five complete innings in the pitcher's circle for B-CU, allowing just six hits and one unearned run. She also struck-out one batter.

Howard went three innings for the Bears as she allowed eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts. Assisting Howard in the circle was Porsche Boddicker with an inning of work, giving up four runs (all earned) on five hits from the Wildcats.

Since the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Round-Up began in South Carolina last season, the Wildcats are now sitting pretty with an overall record of 7-1. Their only loss to this point came against Hampton last year on the third day of the tournament.

The Wildcats will play two more games against MEAC Northern Division opponents tomorrow as they take on Howard and Maryland-Eastern Shore back in West Columbia, S.C.