GAME 1 BOX SCORE GAME 2 BOX SCORE
(ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.) Bowie State University picked up two key CIAA divisional softball wins, defeating Elizabeth City State 5-4 and 13-2. With the sweep, the BSU Lady Bulldogs improve their record to 18-16, 12-4 CIAA.
A double by Bowie State's Amanda Ray in the top of the first inning, scored Danielle McClay (Silver Spring, MD, Montgomery Blair). McClay reached on a single through the left side of the Elizabeth City State defense.
Bowie State scored one in the top of the sixth to take a 2-0 lead, but the Lady Vikings cut the lead in half in their half of the sixth.
BSU's Lady Bulldogs increased its lead to 5-3 in the top of the seventh, courtesy of doubles by McClay and Renelle Traylor (Hayward, CA, San Lorenzo) and a homerun by Adria Lewis (Cumberland, MD, Fort Hill).
Elizabeth City State (8-14, 8-12 CIAA) matched Bowie State's three runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh. With the tying run in scoring position, ECSU's Samantha Craig grounded out to end game one at 5-4.
Megan Alexander (Damascus, Md., Damascus) pitched the complete game, striking out nine. McClay went 3-of-4 from the plate and Traylor was 2-of-4 at the dish in game one.
It was all Bowie State in game two, as the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a comfortable 6-0 lead after 4 ½ innings. Nine of Bowie State's 14 total hits came over the first four innings.
Elizabeth City State's Kristen Cochran belted a two out, two run homerun in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Jennifer Gray on the play as well.
Bowie State recorded five hits in the top of the seventh and scored seven runs to end the game early by way of the NCAA eight-run mercy rule.
The Lady Bulldogs were led in the night cap by McClay's four doubles. Mariela Hernandez struck out seven and allowed just three hits.
Bowie State returns to the diamond – Monday (April 18) on the road at Virginia Union University. The Lady Bulldogs will close out the regular season with a non-conference makeup doubleheader – Tuesday (April 20) against Millersville University at 2:30 pm.
