March 3, 2010

Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - On a chilly and breezy day for the Florida environment, the Providence College Friars may not have felt too much out of sorts, but with the weather shifts this winter, the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman Softball are all too familiar with these kinds of cold days. After getting rained out of Tuesday's first home double-header, today's matchup with Providence became B-CU's 2010 home opener. The Wildcats played quite well to open the home season, using a strong fourth inning burst to win 3-1. However, in game two, the Friars found their bats, hitting heavy in two innings to defeat B-CU, 9-4.

The Wildcats played solid defense to open the afternoon against Providence, holding them to just four hits the entire game. B-CU shut down most of the Friars' opportunities, stranding four players on base. Providence made the first strike to get on the board, in the top of the fourth inning. However, the Wildcats were quick to respond, getting two hits for three runs in the bottom of the inning. The Wildcats collected their first run with a short shot to center field by Sabrina Ferguson, which brought Cesley in from third with the bases loaded up. On the next at-bat, Michelle Banuelos-Smith hit an infield single, bringing Allison Garcia in from third. B-CU's final run of the inning came on a Joana Hernandez fly-out to right field, which gave Ferguson a shot to claim home plate on the throw.

"We took advantage of the opportunities that we had," said Head Coach Chris Cochran, "and we stepped up to the plate and got contributions offensively."

Sabrina Ferguson and Michelle Banuelos-Smith each topped the first game with a single hit and an RBI. Defensively, Joana Hernandez grabbed 14 putouts at first base, but was assisted heavily by great snags at third by Ferguson, who finished with 7 assists. Allison Garcia started and closed the game on the mound for B-CU, tallying 5 strikeouts and no earned runs. The win moves her to 5-5 on the season, with an ERA of 2.29.

In the second game, it looked like more of the same for the Wildcats, holding to Providence to no hits in the first inning. However, the second inning completely changed the landscape of the game, collecting four hits, and six runs, which really got rolling with a collision between the catcher and pitcher, causing an error. PC closed the inning having taken a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Wildcats were far from ready to lie down, they responded quickly scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Michelle Banuelos-Smith hit a solid triple to right field. On the very next batter, fellow freshman Joana Hernandez hit the long ball over the center field fence for a two-shot home run. B-CU closed out the inning down 6-2.

The Friars were able to score three more runs over the course of the next five innings, starting with an immediate response in the third, scoring two. B-CU scored in back to back innings, first in the bottom of the third, with Aurelia Gamch scoring as the PC fielder dropped a high pop-up in shallow left field. B-CU put another on the board in the fourth as Cesley Tafoya batted Ashton Hinds in from third.

Although the Wildcats hit strong, collecting nine-total hits in the game, they were not able to capitalize of the opportunities, stranding eight runners on base. B-CU was unable to overcome the early lead tallied by the Friars, falling 9-4.

"Providence College came out very determined in that second game," said Cochran, "and we had some problems on defense that really hurt us. I was pleased with our offense because we continued to work and have innings where we put runners on base, giving us opportunities to score."

Three Wildcats collected 2 hits apiece, led by Joana Hernandez with two RBI's, along with solid hitting by Aurelia Gamch and Cesley Tafoya. Allison Garcia and Michelle Banuelos-Smith each collected a hit each. Joana Hernandez again led on defense with 8 putouts, closely followed by Sabrina Ferguson, who made several snags at third base, notching 5 put outs of her own. Chastity Sanders (0-5) pitched the entire second game for B-CU, collecting 4 strikeouts.

The Wildcats (5-10) return to action early tomorrow afternoon, facing Boston College in a single rescheduled game, 2:00 p.m. at Sunnyland Park.

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