May 1, 2007

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Florida A&M used five homeruns and a come-from-behind rally to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 4-3 & 9-6 on Tuesday afternoon in a big Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference softball match-up at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Wildcats were celebrating "Senior Appreciation Day" for Shaterra Davis and Andrea Thomas in the process, both of whom were playing their last home games at Sunnyland Park in the maroon and gold.

Bethune-Cookman (21-34, 5-9 MEAC) took the early lead when they broke loose for three runs in the home-half of the third frame.

With two outs already showing on the board, junior shortstop Holly Bussey dribbled a single up the middle to reach base safely for the Wildcats. Third baseman Christina Trimble added to that with a single before advancing to throw on an attempt that would not be successful to get Bussey out at third.

As runners stood in scoring position, first baseman Brandi Holley recorded her team-leading fifth homerun of the year with a blast-off to left field that put the `Cats ahead of their intrastate rivals from Tallahassee, 3-0.

FAMU (16-41, 6-5 MEAC) would come right back to even the score in the top of the very next inning.

Rhianna Green kicked things off with a triple, and first baseman Alacia Strafford added the first run of the game for the Lady Rattlers as she singled to left to bring in Green on the play. Ashley Jones later singled for FAMU, but a costly error charged to the B-CU outfield allowed two runners to cross on the play, tying the score at 3-3.

With a runner on third and one away in the sixth, a costly decision to hit-and-run/steal home for the Wildcats did not pan out as Trashonda Coven streaked home, only to be met by catcher Ashley Smith for the Lady Rattlers. The next batter flew out to end the threat of a score for the `Cats.

FAMU would take advantage in the seventh as they registered the go-ahead when, after reaching base following an infield error, Alesha Wells came in to score on a passed ball. That put the Lady Rattlers ahead, 4-3.

B-CU loaded up the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, but came away empty as FAMU took the opening game of the day.

The win went to relief pitcher Ashley James for the Lady Rattlers, improving her record to 1-1. Starter Destiny Gordon was pulled in the third as she allowed two runs on three hits and walked two batters, forcing head coach Veronica Wiggins to end her charge.

B-CU junior Jessica Hurtado was marked with the loss to drop her at 7-10 for the year. She went the complete game with four runs (one earned) and spread out seven hits with seven (7) strikeouts throughout.

Christina Trimble finished the first game 3-for-4 for the `Cats, also scoring a run while teammates Brandi Holley and Trashonda Coven both went 2-for-2 at the plate. Holley had three RBI and a run.

FAMU was led at the plate by Strafford who was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

In the nightcap affair, FAMU turned the long ball into a nightmare for the Wildcats of B-CU.

They hit back-to-back homeruns twice in the game, including three in a series of four batters during the second inning to run away and hide with a 9-6 win.

The Wildcats did try and rally to make things close late, but it wasn't enough as second baseman Turelle Farmer went 2-for-2 with two (2) homeruns and three RBI to keep the Lad Rattlers on top.

Senior catcher Andrea Thomas finally got the bat going in the second game with a 2-for-3 outing and a run scored, while Trimble continued to swing a sizzling bat in going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs.

Holly Bussey added two RBI on a hit, while Brandi Holley collected two RBI with a 0-for-4 collar at the plate. Fellow senior second baseman Shaterra Davis finished the day going 1-for-6 with an RBI.

Catcher Alesha Wells was once again a thorn for the Wildcats, helping the Lady Rattlers with a 3-for-4 outing at the dish, while four others garnered a multi-hit outing as well.

Jessica Hurtado dropped her record to 7-11 with the loss for B-CU, while FAMU's Destiny Gordon collected the win to push out to elevate her record at 5-14.

The Wildcats have now lost five straight games to the Lady Rattlers dating back to the MEAC Championship series in 2005. That's when B-CU's five-year reign as conference king ended in the last Spring Carnival held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

B-CU will finish off the regular season on Sunday, May 6, when they travel to nearby Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. for a 2 p.m. affair. The Wildcats will then prepare for the MEAC Tournament in Baltimore, Md.