GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE
(BOWIE, MD) It was better late than never as the Bowie State University Lady Bulldogs battled back to turn away the Lady Pioneers of Columbia Union College 3-2 and 5-4 in non-conference softball action.
Bowie State (10-6) struggled at the plate in game one with the Lady Bulldogs managing just six hits in the extra inning affair. The home standing Lady Bulldogs appeared ready to close out the first of two games, leading 1-0 after six innings. However, Columbia Union's Heidi Lohr opened the top of the 7th inning with a single to center that turned into a three base error, allowing the Lady Pioneers tie the game. Winning pitcher senior Jillian Willey (5-3) sat the next two batters to fly out and ground out. BSU junior Virginia Hockey singled to right center in the Lady Bulldogs half of the seventh inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. Senior Bethany Sloat flew out to right and sophomore Annette Makle struck out. However, Hockey attempted to steal third but was thrown out, sending the game into the extra frame.
Playing under international rules, Columbia Union placed Tania Little on second base and Betty Luedtke to bat. Luedtke gave herself up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Little to third. Jenna Pickel popped up for the first out of the 8th inning. April-Mae Ridenour reached on a throwing error by BSU's Hockey, scoring Little and giving Columbia Union a 2-1 advantage. Bowie State's Hockey began the Lady Bulldogs portion of the 8th inning on second. Sophomore Breaun Garner reached on a fielder's choice bunt but Hockey was thrown out at third. Garner advanced to second on a wild pitch by Columbia Union's Stephanie Chapman. Freshman Danielle McClay reached on a fielder's choice and Garner was safe at third after Ridenour bobbled the throw. Senior Erin Gray laced a single through the left side of the Lady Pioneers defense, scoring Gray and McClay and giving Bowie State the 3-2 victory.
After a scoreless first three innings of game two, Columbia Union took a 2-0 advantage in the top of the 4th inning. Christina Smith began the fourth with a double to deep center field and advanced to third after Lohr singled through the left side of the Bowie State defense. Chapman helped herself by stroking a double to left that scored Smith and Lohr.
Columbia Union (5-17) went up 4-0 in the top half of the 5th inning, but Bowie State trimmed into the deficit by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. Bowie State's Makle led off the fifth with a solo home run over the left center field fence, the first of her Lady Bulldogs career. Willey grounded out and Gray flied out for the first two outs of the inning. Junior Tiffany Toney tripled down the right field line and scored following a single up the middle by junior Tricia Corbin, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Junior Heather Enders struck out the first two Columbia Union batters and got Luedtke to fly out to center. The Bowie State bats really came alive in the bottom half of the 6th inning as the Lady Bulldogs pounded out four of their 10 total hits. Senior Bethany Sloat doubled to center field and McClay reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Sloat to third with one out. Makle popped up to the pitcher but Willey responded with a single to center, scoring Sloat. A Gray single sent Willey to second, scoring McClay and tying the game at 4-4. Gray and Willey moved up 60 feet on a passed ball and Toney hit a hot shot the short stop scoring Willey for the go-ahead run.
Columbia Union's Pickel popped up to the catcher for the first out of the 7th inning. Ridenour reached base on a base on balls and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Smith popped out to the pitcher and Cherrae Freeman's foul fly was snared by BSU's Willey to close out the game.
Bowie State will return to the diamond – Thursday (4/3) hosting Lincoln (PA) University in a non-conference doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m.
