GULFPORT, Miss. – Briana Velazquez went 3-for-3 at the plate while Halyne Gonzalez pitched a shutout Wednesday morning in helping Bethune-Cookman defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a 2-0 count in an elimination game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament at Gulfport Sportsplex.
 
All-SWAC Second Team selection Halyne Gonzalez set the tone right from the start in the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats. However, Arkansas-Pine Bluff pitcher Danika Bryant went toe-to-toe with the BCU right-hander through four innings.
 
With the game scoreless early-on, Bethune-Cookman (19-31) had a runner on third in each of the first two innings.
 
BCU shortstop Briana Velazquez smacked a two-out triple to the wall in right center in the bottom of the fourth, but the Cats were unable to push her across as UAPB's Bryant was able to get Shanai Owens to ground out on the next play.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (19-30) threatened in the top of the fifth when Ariana Gonzalez led off with a double before Malani Francis then moved her over and reached on a bunt. With Jada Crusterson pinch running for Gonzalez, a heads up play by BCU catcher Thais Uyema caught the Golden Lions runner off the bag at third with Owens applying the tag for the second out of the inning. Halyne Gonzalez would get centerfielder Jasmine Carlson to pop up in foul territory on the next play as Wildcat first baseman Kallie Earlington settled under it for the final out.
 
BCU would capitalize in the home-half of the inning as Earlington walked from the leadoff spot, followed by an infield single by right fielder Essence Gibbs to put runners on the corners – as Joyce Bloome served in a pinch runner role for the Maroon and Gold.  After pinch hitter Aysiah Gonzalez walked to load the bases, second baseman Jessica Alaan broke the deadlock with a sacrifice fly to left field in order to move across Bloome and give BCU the lead.
 
The Cats led 1-0 after five innings completed.
 
The insurance run would score for Bethune-Cookman in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Brooklyn Scott and Velazquez went back-to-back with hits to lead off the at-bat for the Cats, allowing Owens to tally the RBI groundout to shortstop that was deep enough in the hole to plate Scott for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Gonzalez finished it off in the seventh with a 1-2-3 frame to close out the win for Bethune-Cookman, advancing the Wildcats to another elimination game on Thursday morning.
 
The win was collected by Gonzalez (13-16) as she pitched a complete-game, one-hitter in the circle for the Wildcats, walking two and striking out six on the day. The loss went to UAPB's Bryant (2-9) in a complete-game effort of her own, as she allowed two runs on five hits, four walks and three strikeouts.
 
Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by Velazquez with a perfect 3-for-3 day, as well as hits from Gibbs and Scott, respectively. Alaan and Owens added RBIs for the Maroon and Gold as well.
 
Bethune-Cookman now faces the loser of Wednesday evening's Florida A&M versus Texas Southern contest, on Thursday, May 9, at 11:30 am ET (10:30 am CT).
 
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