CARY, N.C. - The Bowie State University softball team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday, topping Millersville University by a score of 5-3 in seven innings but dropped a 7-1 decision to Charleston (W.Va.) in game two in the Shaw Lady Bears Challenge.
 
Junior Ja'Seph Smith (Bowie, Md.) along with sophomores Megan Visele (Great Mills, Md.) and Jaelyn Belt (Glen Burnie, Md.) paced the Bulldogs with two hits apiece in the victory against Millersville's Marauders. Smith also led Bowie State with two RBI and belted her first homerun of the season. Junior pitcher Stefanie Ray earned her first win of the season, going a complete seven innings, striking out three but walked six.
 
Heather Lutz and Brittany Smith led Millersville (2-1) with a pair of hits each on a combined seven at bats.
 
In game two for the Bulldogs, Smith once again led Bowie State's offense with a pair of hits in three plate appearances. The Bowie State trio of Inaya Jones (Baltimore, Md.), Lindsey Fenner (Aberdeen, Md.) and Emily Lewis (Aberdeen, Md.) along with Belt accounted for one hit each in the nightcap setback.
 
Junior pitcher Nicoleen Ochoa (Madison, Ohio) allowed seven hits and three earned runs in 4.0 innings in the circle.
 
Charleston's Golden Eagles (4-5) were led by Rachelle Toppings and Laura Ashlock with two hits each and Jessie Rowe went the distance (7 innings), facing 26 batters and gave up six hits.
 
Bowie State's Smith tallied a team-high four hits on the day, which included a double and a homerun. Belt was second on the team in hits with three, one of which was a triple and three other Bulldogs (Belt, Visele and Jones) accounted for two hits.
 
The Bowie State Bulldogs (1-3) wrap up play in the Shaw Lady Bears Challenge on Sunday (3/5) morning, taking on the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University at 10 a.m. at Middle Creek School.