April 28, 2007

Box Score

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Bethune-Cookman University was too much for Winston-Salem State University on Saturday afternoon, completing a softball doubleheader sweep with scores of 11-2 and 13-5 at South Park Field in Winston-Salem, N.C.

In the first game, B-CU (21-32) fell behind 2-0 in the opening frame, but the powerful bats for the Wildcats came alive to score 11 unanswered runs over the course of the next four innings.

Shaterra Davis and Brandi Holley rushed in for the `Cats opening scores on an errant throw by the WSSU (12-31) infield to tie the game at 2-2 in the second inning.

B-CU went ahead in the third inning when Holley's RBI ground-out allowed Holly Bussey to score on the play, putting B-CU on top at 3-2.

Breanna Shaw collected a two-run scoring single down the left field line in the fourth that plated Trashonda Coven and Andrea Thomas on the play for the 5-2 Wildcats advantage.

In the fifth inning, the Wildcats finally wore down Lady Rams starting pitcher Ashley Boswell to score six times in the inning, forcing the run-rule into effect.

The first three batters of the inning reached safely, including a run scored on a Boswell wild pitch by Christina Trimble. Tameika Jonas collected one of her three hits on the day with an RBI single that allowed Davis to score, pushing the Wildcats on top even further at 9-2 B-CU scored twice more in the inning via RBI singles from Bussey and Shaw (picking up her third RBI of the game).

B-CU starting pitcher Jessica Hurtado mowed down the top of the order in the home-half of the inning to give the `Cats the win at 11-2.

Hurtado allowed just the two runs in the opening inning before settling in with three strikeouts ... as well as spreading out six hits in the game. With the win, she improved to 6-9 on the year.

The loss for WSSU's Boswell dropped her to 5-15 on the campaign.

Breanna Shaw and Holly Bussey both collected multi-hit performances at the plate, including Shaw's three RBI and one from Bussey. Trashonda Coven and Brandi Holley also secured RBI singles, while lead-off hitter Tameika Jonas did the same.

In the second game, it was a "take your pick" affair as five (5) Wildcats collected multiple hits, including Bussey going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with her third triple of the year.

B-CU wasted little time jumping out on top early-on, scoring three runs in the top-half of the first inning.

Three scores came in for the Wildcats on an error on the WSSU infield, putting the Lady Rams in a hole that they would never crawl out of.

Though bouncing back in the bottom of the inning with a run via Hall's RBI single through the left side, WSSU allowed too many counter frames as the Wildcats matched whatever score they put on the board ... in the very next inning.

Bussey picked up an RBI single in the second to score Shaw, while senior Andrea Thomas picked up one of her own in the third with an RBI single to right that crossed Davis for the 5-2 Wildcats advantage.

WSSU countered with their biggest outburst of the afternoon in the bottom of the third inning as they scored three runs to tie the game up at 5-5.

Pitcher Amber Shore started things off with a leadoff triple, followed by a sacrifice fly to centerfield from Hall. Leslie Hollis singled two batters later and scored on a throwing error to cut the B-CU lead at 5-4. Unfortunately for the `Cats, Elyon Taylor also scored for the Lady Rams to tie the game at 5-5.

The Wildcats were not to be outdone, however, as they matched their Piedmont Triad counterparts with three runs in the top-half of the fourth frame to reclaim the lead, and ultimately secure the victory.

Tameika Jonas led-off the frame with a single, and later came in to score when Breanna Shaw singled to and advanced into scoring position herself on the throw. That put B-CU back on top, 6-5.

Bussey's RBI triple in the inning scored Shaw to put B-CU back ahead at 7-5. That was followed by a sacrifice fly from Holley that scored Bussey for the 8-5 B-CU lead.

A total Wildcats fury occurred in the fifth as B-CU scored four times to march out to a sizeable 12-5 lead.

Andrea Thomas picked up a run-scoring double on a laser down the right field line, while she later scored on a Shore wild pitch. Bussey and Shaw each collected run-scoring singles as well, while Jonas and Shaw did the scoring on their behalf.

When Lady Rams starter Shore was relieved in the fifth, the pitcher from the first game in the form of Ashley Boswell toed the rubber to finish things out for WSSU.

But in the inning, Coven continued her hot-swinging ways with a single, followed by a stolen base ... and a passed ball to move to third before the next batter [Thomas] was able to get a swing off.

Coven came in to score on a Jonas, who has been blistering hot as of late, single to put B-CU ahead, 13-5, and force the run-rule.

The win went to B-CU's Jessica Hurtado, improving her record to 7-9, while Amber Shore dropped to 7-16 for the Lady Rams of WSSU.

Hurtado worked six innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs, though only three were earned.

Bussey was a perfect 4-for-4, including two scores and three RBI. Right behind her was Breanna Shaw who was 4-for-5 with stats that include four runs and two RBI.

Left fielder Tameika Jonas was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI, while catcher Andrea Thomas was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Also posting a perfect batting average in the game was freshman Trashonda Coven with a 2-for-2 day with two runs scored.

Tuesday, May 1 will be the next time to catch the Mighty Wildcats in action as they will host a "Senior Day" celebration at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach against rival Florida A&M University. The Wildcats will be saying good-bye to seniors Shaterra Davis and Andrea Thomas as they play their last home games for the maroon and gold.