Monday, May 7, 2012

Ashley Taylor: Bethune-Cookman Softball Rocks S.C. State in First Road Conference Games, April 4, 2009




Call Softball Contact Michael Stambaugh for more details - 386.481.2278

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - In the first road trip of the 2009 softball season, Bethune-Cookman came away with two big wins, sweeping South Carolina State in both games of the series. In the first game of Saturday, the Wildcats faced a tough defensive game throughout, put in a strong finish to defeat the Lady Bulldogs 4-1 in extra innings. In Game Two, B-CU completely shut down SCSU and played well offensively throughout, including a huge fourth inning, to shutout the Lady Bulldogs 8-0.

Game One
Facing their first conference road game of the season, the Wildcats stood their ground defensively throughout the first game. The Lady Bulldogs of S.C. State put the first run on the board, but that is where the offense would end for the Lady Bulldogs as B-CU went on to hold them scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing three hits that inning, but none in the rest of regulation. 

The Wildcats got on the board themselves in the top of the third inning, scoring on a single by Simone Ceasar that batted in Ashley Taylor (Leesburg High School, Leesburg Florida)  from Third Base. The run tied the score at 1-1, where it would remain through the end of regulation, forcing extra innings. In the eighth inning, the Wildcats laid it on thick, creating a major challenge for SCSU. B-CU put four scores on the board in the extra inning to secure the victory. The first scores of the eighth, Ashley Taylor scored again as Ashton Hinds reached base and scored on an SCSU error to take the lead. 

B-CU extended their lead as the next two batters reached base, and then Allison Garcia hit a double to Center Field which brought Simone Ceasar and Cesley Tafoya across Home Plate. The Wildcats finished the top of the eighth leading the Lady Bulldogs 5-1.

Allison Garcia (.321) led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBI, while Simone Ceasar (.298) and Ashley Taylor (.286) both batted well, collecting two hits apiece. 

Allison Garcia (8-18) also led the Wildcats on the mound, starting her 20th consecutive game at Pitcher for B-CU. Garcia collected eight strikeouts with only one Earned Run, making her season ERA 3.86.

Game Two
The second game of the afternoon in Orangeburg turned out to be a rout in favor of the Wildcats who turned a well-played defensive game into a win with a complementary offensive attack. Bethune-Cookman held SCSU to only one hit in the game while reeling off eight of their own, including a huge five-hit fourth inning.

The Wildcats got started early, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. B-CU's first run scored as Ashton Hinds stole second then crossed Home Plate on a Simone Ceasar to left field. Ceasar would continue her impact on the inning, stealing Home to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

After being held scoreless for two innings, B-CU went on the offensive, putting four runs on the lead. Ashton Hinds got it started, hitting to left field and pushing in Tameika Jonas and Brittani Austin. Later Hinds scored one of her own as she advanced Home on a throw from Third Base. Next, an Allison Garcia double hit Simone Ceasar in from Third. To wrap up the scoring for B-CU, Sabrina Ferguson batted in Cesley Tafoya on a single, to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats put one more on the board in the top of the sixth, but put three runners on base. The final score of the game came as Allison Garcia singled, batting in the run by Cesley Tafoya to secure the win at 8-0.

Bethune-Cookman played extremely well on both sides of the ball, with several players logging several hits each. Simone Ceasar (.298) got three hits in four at-bats, while scoring two runs of her own. Allison Garcia (.321) had two hits and two RBI, while Sabrina Ferguson (.243) had two hits and an RBI. Tameika Jonas .186) and Ashley Taylor (.286) each had two hits apiece. 

Chastity Sanders (3-6) started and finished her first game since late February, earning three strikeouts with no Earned Runs. Her season ERA is currently 4.34. 

The Wildcats (11-27, 4-1 MEAC) continue their road trip tomorrow afternoon as they finish out the series with South Carolina State before returning home to face North Florida next Wednesday. Sunday's game with SCSU is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman University 

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