ITTA BENA, Miss. — Bethune-Cookman took a 13-4 victory over Mississippi Valley State in five innings Thursday at MVSU Softball Field. The Wildcats, who lead the series 21-3, improved to 13-24 overall and 9-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Diamond Devils, with a 1-27 record, remain winless in conference play at 0-15.
Taniya Partee came within a home run of hitting for the cycle. She tripled to lead off the game, doubled in the second inning, and singled in the fourth. However, she did not get another at-bat as the game ended early due to the five-inning mercy rule. Partee’s efforts highlighted a tough day for the host team.
Bethune-Cookman’s Sheridan Kynard drove in two runs with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Madison Bruce singled and scored in her only plate appearance. Ashtyn Clark went 1-for-2 with a walk, and Kelsey Kaluna-Thomas also went 1-for-2, contributing to the Wildcats’ offensive surge.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first inning, with Janel Morrisey and Kween Tauala each driving in runs. Bethune-Cookman added to its lead with a big second inning, featuring a triple from Kynard that cleared the bases and scoring on a wild pitch. Mississippi Valley State responded briefly in the second and fourth innings but could not close the gap.
Mississippi Valley State will next face UAPB in a doubleheader in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday. The team’s social media accounts include updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
