ACKWORTH, Ga. – The 2019 softball season got off to a tough start on Saturday (2/9) as the Bowie State University Bulldogs dropped a 17-7 decision to Tuskegee University and fell 10-2 to Lane College on opening day of the HBCU D-II Tournament at Patriots Park.
 
Freshman Shanya Gordon passed the Bulldogs with a .600 bating average over two games, getting three hits in five at bats. Seniors Jaylen Belt and Tiffany Bearns along with freshman Sierra Sims accounted for two hits each on a combined 16 at bats. Bearns tallied three RBI over two games.
 
In game one versus Tuskegee, BSU's Gordon blasted a pair of home runs to help the Bulldogs hold a 2-1 lead through four innings. However, Tuskegee pushed eight across the plate in the top of 5th inning to take control of the game at 9-2.
 
Bowie State was able to get three runs back in their share of the 5th inning only to have Tuskegee match the Bulldogs with three runs of their own in the top half of the 6th inning.
 
Tuskegee's Golden Lions scored five in the top of the 7th inning to seal the 17-7 victory.
 
Freshman Kristina Hawke pitched seven innings in the season opener, striking out one but walked eight.
 
As a team, Bowie State managed seven hits against Tuskegee compared to 17 hits for the Golden Tigers.
 
In game two for the Bulldogs, Bowie State fell behind 9-0 through 2 ½ innings before plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning following a 2-run homer by Bearns but the deficit was too great to overcome. The Bulldogs only had five hits in 18 at bats compared to 15 hits for the Lane Dragons in 30 at bats.
 
Senior Morgan Powell took the loss in the circle in game two going just three innings.
 
Bowie State (0-2) will be back in action on Sunday (2/10) facing Kentucky State at 8 a.m. and will closeout the Bulldogs HBCU D-II Tournament participation against Fort Valley State at 10:30 a.m.