ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (May 11, 2017)-The Morgan State softball team hung with second-seeded Bethune-Cookman for four innings, before the host Lady Wildcats erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat Morgan State 8-0 in five innings in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championships at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
Bethune-Cookman (22-31) broke a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth with a triple hit down the right field line by MEAC Rookie and Player of the Year, Ryan Jackson, who would also score on the play on a throwing error to put the Lady Wildcats in front 1-0.
 
The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth, when B-CU would score seven runs on six hits and one Morgan error to end the game on the eight-run rule.
 
Kailey Richard led off the fifth with a double down the left field line and scored two batters later when Yvonne Siordia doubled to right center, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead. A Bakenhaus stepped to the plate with bases loaded and reached on an error, which allowed Jacki Smith and Kaiya Epps-Lee to score, making it a 4-0 lead. Iesha Waters singled to center to score Mariah Davis, which led to the Lady Bears making a pitching change.
 
Jackson would smack a double to left center on a failed intentional walk, to drive in two more runs and increase the Lady Wildcats' lead to 7-0. Kaitlin Alamprese doubled to right field and Jackson crossed the plate for the eighth and final run to end the game.
 
Morgan State (23-22) was led by Audrianna Alvarez, who recorded the Lady Bears' lone hit of the game and had a stolen base. Starting pitcher Amy Begg (20-13) was charged with the loss. She recorded two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched to increase her single-season record to 172 strikeouts.
 
The Lady Bears will return to action this evening with an elimination game against No. 4 North Carolina Central at 4:30 p.m. The Eagles dropped their opener to top-seeded Hampton 4-0.