RICHMOND, Va. – Bowie State University softball opened CIAA Northern Division play with a doubleheader sweep at Virginia Union University on Sunday, defeating the Lady Panthers 9-7 and 5-2. With the wins, the Bulldogs' record now stands at 2-0 in the division, 7-1 in league play and 10-12 overall.
In game one Virginia Union (4-11, 3-5 CIAA, 2-2 North) got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the 2nd inning via a homer by Karinna Gooding (Norfolk, Va.). The Panthers added two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs exploded for six runs in the top of the 4th inning on six hits. Bowie State began the fourth with three straight singles to load the bases. Sophomore
Tiffany Bearns (Lusby, Md.) stepped to the plate a belted a grand slam to give Bowie State a 4-3 lead. Sophomore
Jaelyn Belt (Glen Burnie, Md.) walked and later scored following a double to center field by junior Ja'Seph Smith (Bowie, Md.). A
Jacqueline Pickering (Bowie, Md.) RBI double scored Smith for a 6-3 Bowie State lead.
Bowie State junior
Inaya Jones (Baltimore, Md.) began the 5th inning with a double and sophomore
Megan Visele (Great Mills, Md.) stroked a single through the left side of the Virginia Union defense, moving Jones to third. Jones later scored on a wild pitch. A Bearns double moved Visele to third followed by a double to right field by junior
Stefanie Ray (Damascus, Md.) pushed Bearns and Visele across the dish for a 9-3 lead.
Virginia Union's Janaya Harris (Dover, Del.) started the Lady Panthers share of the 6th inning with a double up the middle and later scored to cut the Bowie State lead to 9-4.
The Panthers made a furious charge in the bottom of 7th inning, scoring three runs but Bowie State held on to claim the 9-7 win.
Junior
Nicoleen Ochoa (Madison, Ohio) earned the victory in the circle for Bowie State, struck out two, allowed eight hits but only three earned runs.
After a scoreless 1st inning, Bowie State's Visele opened the 2nd inning with a double up the middle and Bearns followed that with a homerun (her second of the season) to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage. Belt singled then stole second and third. A sacrifice fly by Ray scored Belt for a 3-0 Bulldogs lead and never looked back.
Bowie State added their final two runs (unearned) of game two in the top of the 3rd inning.
Bowie State accounted for eight hits in the final game of the series with Ochoa and Visele responsible for two each. Ray went the distance in the circle, striking out 10 and walking none over seven innings. Visele pounded out five hits in seven plate appearances over the two games and Ochoa was second best on the team with four hits.
The Bulldogs will be idle until returning to action at home on Saturday (4/8), hosting the Lady Lions of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania in a conference doubleheader. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 12 p.m.
