FAMU Sweeps B-CU in Championship Finals - Wildcats Finish Second in MEAC - Garcia, Ferguson Named to All-Tournament Team

May 9, 2009

Call Softball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - The MEAC Softball Championships wrapped up Saturday with the rematch between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M in the Championship Final. The Wildcats were appearing in their first Final since 2005 and had played well throughout the tournament to get there. The first game was a tighter game, but errors came back to bite the Wildcats, allowing FAMU opportunities to score. In the second game, the Lady Rattlers outgunned the Wildcats, also keeping B-CU from capitalizing on opportunities, downing B-CU 9-1 in five innings, and becoming the 2009 MEAC Softball Champions. Two Wildcats, Allison Garcia and Sabrina Ferguson, were named to the All-Tournament team.

Game One

The opening game of the day started out, and mostly remained, a defensive struggle. Both the Lady Rattlers and Wildcats were held scoreless through three innings, before FAMU got on the board in the top of the fourth. The Lady Rattlers took advantage of their speed and put in two runs on a single. FAMU scored again, two more runs, two innings later to bring their lead to 4-0, where it would remain until the final out.

One of the main keys to the loss in the first game was the defense FAMU put on B-CU; the Wildcats had no hits until the sixth inning, and finished the first game with only two. Hitting in the game for B-CU were Ashton Hinds (.282) and Simone Ceasar (.301). Allison Garcia started the game on the mound for B-CU, collecting three strikeouts on two Earned Runs, but Chastity Sanders made her first tournament appearance to relieve Garcia in the seventh. Sanders ended the season with 35 strikeouts and a combined ERA of 4.53.

Game Two

With the victory over B-CU in the first game of the Final, FAMU moved into position to take the championship with a win in the second game, as both teams had one loss in the tournament. This game took on a totally different look, with FAMU coming out on fire offensively, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the second inning, they added substantially to their lead, adding five more runs. The Wildcats got the Lady Rattler attack under control and started to get some offense going themselves, shutting down FAMU in the fourth and fifth innings and getting three hits in during that time.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, it seemed as though the Wildcats were getting on track, but the momentum was cut short by a called dead ball out, which brought back a run and shortened the inning for B-CU, which left two runners on base in the inning. In the same inning, the Wildcats batted in their sole run of the game, as Tameika Jonas hit a single up the middle which brought Sabrina Ferguson Home. The Wildcats had many opportunities, finishing with seven hits in the game, but FAMU forced them to end innings with runners stranded. The Lady Rattlers ended the Wildcats tournament run in the Final, winning 9-1 in five innings.

Tameika Jonas (.215) finished the game with two hits and one RBI. Sabrina Ferguson (.277) also finished with two hits and one run, while Liz Parrish (.184) added two hits of her own. Parrish also added six putouts in the game. Allison Garcia (16-26) again started and finished the game, collecting six strikeouts, bringing her season total to 193 strikeouts on the year, with a season ERA of 3.14.

Following the conclusion of Game Two, MEAC officials announced the selections for the MEAC Softball Championships All-Tournament Team. Two Wildcats were honored and named to the squad. Sabrina Ferguson and Allison Garcia were both honored by the conference for strong performances in the conference tournament, which helped B-CU to a 3-2 record and a championship game appearance.

The Wildcats finished their season with a record of 20-36 overall, but with a record of 10-8 (including tournament) in MEAC play, B-CU ends the year ranked second in the MEAC. Congratulations Wildcats on a strong finish to the year, including Friday's upset of Florida A&M to earn the right to play for the MEAC Championship.

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