ETTRICK, Va. - Bowie State softball opened CIAA Northern Division play on Saturday afternoon at Virginia State, losing a pair by scores of 11-4 and 9-0.
 
The Bulldogs tallied 11 hits over the two games with Tiffany Bearns and Madison Margas accounting for three hits each in the setbacks. Freshman Amya Ferguson contributed a pair of hits while senior Jaelyn Belt, sophomore Aseyah Alexander and freshman Kristina Hawke added one hit apiece for Bowie State.
 
Bowie State held an early 1-0 1st inning lead over Virginia State, but the Trojans plated four in its share of the opening frame and never looked back.
 
The BSU Bulldogs got one run back in top of the inning when Ferguson scored via a wild pitch. Ferguson reached on a single up the middle.
 
Virginia State pushed three more runs across the dish in the bottom of the third and doubled up the Bulldogs 8-4 by the end of the 6th inning.
 
VSU secured the 8-run mercy rule win, plating three more runs in their share of the 6th inning and the Trojans defense held in the top of the 7th inning to account for the final 11-4 margin.
 
Hawke took the loss in the circle, allowing 11 hits, struck out three and walked two.
 
It was all Virginia State (12-12, 8-1 CIAA) in game two as the Trojans pounded out eight hits compared to just two for Bowie State (3-14, 3-6 CIAA).
 
After a scoreless opening frame, Virginia State scored runs in each of the next three innings, scoring one in the 2nd inning and four runs in the 3rd inning as well as the 4th inning.
 
Bowie State's two hits came by way of a single to center by Margas and a hard shot to third by Alexander. Senior Powell faced 25 batters over four innings, allowing eight hits.
 
The Bulldogs will return to action on Sunday (March 31), making a stop at Virginia Union for a divisional doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.