BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie State softball team celebrated senior day by sweeping the visiting Vikings of Elizabeth City State (11-16, 9-6 CIAA, 6-4 North) on Sunday afternoon at the BSU Softball Field, getting a 14-6 win in game one and a 10-1 in game two. The doubleheader victories put the Bulldogs in first place in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division with an 8-2 record as BSU improves to 22-18-1 overall and 11-5 in CIAA action.
Extending its win-streak to eight-straight, this is the first year Bowie State has reached a 20-win season since 2012.
The Bulldogs celebrated senior day, honoring the Class of 2022 in a pre-game ceremony. Senior Indira Purnell (New Castle, DE), Shanya Gordon (Elkridge, MD) and Evvie Buehlman (Ellicott City, MD) were each recognized.
Game 1: Bowie State 14, Elizabeth City State 6
ECSU skipped to a 3-2 lead over Bowie State in the first inning, the Lady Vikings scored the game's first run on an toppled ball while a pair of singles from two different ECSU players aided the second and third run. The Bulldogs was able to pull within one on a triple from junior Akirra Pullen (Baltimore, MD) and a double from freshman Saniya Jones (Louisa, VA).
The Bulldogs stole the lead in the second, adding four runs in which three were unearned for the 6-3 top. After scoring one more run in the third, BSU's 7-3 lead deflated as ECSU gathered two runs in the fourth on miscues from the Bulldogs. Holding a two-point lead going into the bottom of that inning, graduate senior Aseyah Alexander (Silver Springs, MD) doubled to right field for an RBI as freshman Morgan Joseph (Flander, NJ) scored while freshman Saniya Jones (Louisa, VA) reached home plate on a passed ball and then Alexander came home on an overthrown ball from the Lady Vikings that pushed BSU's lead 10-5 going into the fifth.
Bowie State's defense held off any potential run for ECSU in the fifth as the Bulldogs turned up their intensity in the bottom when Buehlman singled to centerfield for an RBI and freshman Alyssa Cloutier (Derwood, MD) touched home plate. Jones then singled to left field that allowed Gordon to score while Alexander got a base hit that brought home Buehlman. Following a fielder's choice that moved Alexander to second, she stole third before diving home after an overthrown ball that lifted the Bulldogs to the eight-run rule and 14-6 win in five innings.
Alexander went 3-4, including a double with two RBI and three runs scored while Jones was also 3-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Freshman Lindsey George (Fayetteville, GA) improved to 4-6 in the circle, allowing six hits and striking out four.
Game 2: Bowie State 10, Elizabeth City State 1
ECSU jumped ahead on an unearned run in the first inning before BSU scored three runs on two hits to take a 3-1 lead after one complete. Over the next two innings neither team scored until the bottom of the fourth when the Bowie State racked up six hits, including five singles from five different Bulldogs and a double from Gordon and two RBI from freshman Aliyah Smith (Stafford, VA) that aided seven runs and ultimately the eight-run rule in five innings.
Three Bulldogs tallied two hits led by Gordon who finished with two RBI and two runs scored, she was 2-2 at the plate with a double. Buehlman took home the win in the circle, tossing four strikeouts in five innings. She improves to 11-7 on the year.
Up Next:
Bowie State will now await the seeding of the 2022 CIAA Softball Tournament bracket. The Bulldogs will likely host a quarterfinal round in Bowie, Md., as one of the higher seeds on May 3. Semifinals and Finals will be on May 6-7 at the RF&P Park in Glen Allen, Va.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State University Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.
