GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

(TAKOMA PARK, Md.) It was tough, but Bowie State pulled out a pair of wins, sweeping Columbia Union College 9-7 and 14-12. Bowie State improves its record to 14-4 overall.

Bowie State opened up an 8-0 cushion but had to hold on down the stretch to defeat Columbia Union 9-7 in the first game of a non-conference contest. The game did not end without controversy. CUC's Jenna Pickel hit a hard grounder to a diving senior Tiffany Toney (Abilene, TX, Abilene Cooper, The University of Oklahoma ), who fielded the ball and threw over to first for what everyone thought, was the third out. However, the umpires left the fenced confines of the field only to return a minute later ruling Pickel safe a first. BSU pitcher Faline Brown maintained her composure and fanned Taylor Machain to close out the game.

Junior Kelley Alexander (Damascus, Md., Covenant Life, Montgomery College) led Bowie State in game one, going 3-for-4 to go along with two runs. Senior Virginia Hockey (Bowie, MD, Mount Saint Mary's University) and freshman Shanae Smoot (Bel Alton, Md., LaPlata) accounted for two hits each and Smoot recorded a game-high four RBI.

Columbia Union out hit Bowie State 13-10 but CUC's Lady Pioneers committed five errors. Pickel led Columbia Union on offense, going 4-for-4 and crossed the plate three times.

Bowie State began game two pushing one across in the top of the first inning. Columbia Union countered with four runs in their half of the inning with BSU assisting by committing two errors.

The Columbia Union lead increased to 7-2 after four innings, but BSU's Smoot hit a solo home run (4) in the top of the fifth to close the margin to 7-3. A two-out double to right field by Bowie State's Alexander scored two and narrowed the deficit to 7-5.

Columbia Union got one run back in their portion of the fifth, courtesy of another fielding error by the Lady Bulldogs. However, Bowie State senior Ashley Cook (Port Republic, Md., Calvert, College of Southern Maryland) blasted a three-run homer to left field, tying the game at 8-8. Bowie State took a 9-8 lead when Alexander's pop up was dropped by CUC's shortstop, allowing Hockey to score for the Lady Bulldogs.

BSU's Toney slapped a single to shortstop, scoring senior Tricia Corbin (Glen Burnie, MD, Old Mill) from third to push the Bowie State lead to 10-8. Corbin reached on a blooper to short centerfield. Enders stepped to the plate at laced a double to left center, scoring Toney on the play. Cook duplicated her previous at bat, stroking another three-run homer (6), this time to center field, extending Bowie State's lead to 14-8.

Columbia Union made it interesting scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and two runners on base, Pickel stepped to the plate but struck out swinging to end the game.

Senior Heather Enders (Glen Burnie, MD, Old Mill) (8-2) earned the win, facing 42 batters, striking out six and walked four going the complete seven innings. Cook was the leaders for Bowie State in the nightcap, going 4-for-5 in game two and was directly responsible for seven Lady Bulldogs RBI. Alexander and Smoot also had good showing in game two. Alexander recorded three hits and Smoots had two hits.

Bowie State returns to the diamond tomorrow (4/7) hosting the Lady Bears of Shaw University at 1 p.m. in a conference doubleheader.