BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie State softball team's bats stayed hot, that helped sweep the Lady Bears of Shaw (2-26, 1-12 CIAA, 0-8 North) on the BSU Softball Field Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won game one 12-0 and 15-4 in game two. The wins improve BSU's overall record to 20-18-1, 9-5 in CIAA play and 6-2 in the Northern Division.
Graduate senior Evvie Buehlman (Ellicott City, MD) was excellent on the day, going 6-of-7, combining for six hits and six RBI, including five during game one while scoring three times. Senior Shanya Gordon (Elkridge, MD) was 4-7 with a triple and four RBI in the doubleheader, she scored five times. Junior Akirra Pullen (Baltimore, MD) went 3-4 in the nightcap with a triple in game two that sealed the win.
Game 1: Bowie State 12, Shaw 0 (5 innings)
The Bulldogs grabbed two quick runs to opening the scoring in the opener. Bowie State tacked on two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead before Pullen singled with bases loaded and an overthrown ball from the Lady Bears allowed both Buehlman and Gordon to score the first two of eight runs in the inning. The inning featured six hits including a double from Buehlman with seven different Bulldogs scoring for the run-rule victory.
Buehlman earned her 10th win of the season, throwing five great innings from the circle. She allowed one hit and struck out nine out of 17 batters.
Game 2: Bowie State 14, Shaw 5 (5 innings)
Shaw scored in the first run on the day in the first inning on a single to start game two. The Bulldogs responded after freshman Kayla Evans (Bridgeville, DE) scored on passed ball to knot the game at 1-apiece after one complete inning. BSU boosted four runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead, gaining momentum but the Lady Bears added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly out to center field.
BSU saw their three-point lead evaporate in the firth when Shaw evened up things, capitalizing on the Bulldogs miscues. With two runners on second and third, the Lady Bears earned a single that brought home one runner while the next play a dropped ball in centerfield resulted in a pair of Shaw players adding two more runs for the 5-5 scoring frame.
However, the Bulldogs offense came alive posting nine runs on nine hits. It all started with a double from Buehlman, followed by a pair of singles from Pullen and freshman Aliyah Smith (Stafford, VA) that allowed one run. Freshman Saniya Jones (Louisa, VA) came to the plate and tripled to right field as both Pullen and Smith were able to come home as the score showed BSU with an 8-5 lead. Both freshman Morgan Joseph (Flanders, NJ) and Gordon singled with Gordon registering two RBI while Buehlman singled again and Pullen stamped the five-run rule with a double to left field and three RBI.
Pullen pitched five innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs and one walk against four strikeouts to move to 4-3 on the season.
Bowie State will continue conference action on Sunday with home series against Elizabeth City State. The doubleheader will also serve as senior day for the Bulldogs who will honor three seniors prior to the first pitch of game one at 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
