Bethune-Cookman
wins Softball Playoff Regional Title
May 22, 2005
Bethune-Cookman scored five runs on nine hits in the Championship Game to defeat South Florida, 5-2 en route to winning the NCAA Region 13 Tournament at the Florida Softball Stadium. The Lady Wildcats advance to the NCAA Super Regional to play Texas.
"I’m glad this is over because we have been there so many times," said B-CC head coach Lauren Watten. "We always said that when we won one game in the regional, we would just break it wide open.
The Lady Wildcats first NCAA tournament in the history of the program was a victory over the Florida Gators Friday afternoon.
"We bounced back from losing the [Mid-Eastern Athletic] Conference tournament, said Watten. "I said when we lost the conference ‘Who needs a conference championship ring when you win a regional championship?’ This is much bigger. We earned it and we made it known that we belonged in this tournament."
B-CC senior pitcher Lauren McCoy moved her record to 21-12 with the victory, while sophomore Kasey Cash took the loss for the Bulls to finish her season with a 9-6 record.
"We have always been competitive and scrappy," said McCoy in the post game interview. "The idea of realizing our potential is really exciting."
The opening inning set the tone for the game as Bethune-Cookman’s Amber Jackson scored the first run of the game. A base hit by teammate Rachel Kilbert brought in two more runners. The Wildcats ended their first at bat with four hits and three runs. South Florida answered back in the bottom of the first scoring two runs, but it wasn’t enough.
The win gives Bethune-Cookman its first NCAA Regional title in school history after earning its first-ever at-large berth. The two wins over South Florida in the tournament broke a 14-game losing streak to the Bulls. The Lady Wildcats have now won five of their last six games.
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