BOWIE, MD -- The Bulldogs fall in the home opening doubleheader against West Liberty University, 8-5 and 6-4 on Thursday afternoon Mar. 7 at Bulldogs Softball Field in Bowie, MD.
GAME 1 | West Liberty, 8 - Bowie State, 5
BSU took a 5-4 lead into the sixth inning, but could not hang on and fell 8-5 to the Hilltoppers (1-10) Thursday afternoon.
Senior Akirra Pullen (2-6) got the ball to start for the Bulldogs (5-11) and took the loss.
Sophomore Coreena Dunham led the way offensively for the Bulldogs, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a walk and an RBI. Junior Sydney Edmond compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Presleigh Braxton also contributed, going 1-for-3 for Bowie State with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Bulldogs first put runs on the board in the first inning. BSU plated two runs off of WLU pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Edmond.
The Hilltoppers then rallied to score three runs and take a 4-2 lead before the Bulldogs got back on the board in the second. BSU brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Dunham's single, which evened the score at 4-4.
That 4-4 tie turned into a 5-4 Bowie State lead in the fifth. The Bulldogs were unable to hold the lead, as the Hilltoppers scored four times over the remaining two innings to grab the 8-5 win.
GAME NOTES
» BSU's highest-scoring inning was the second when it pushed two runs across.
» Dunham stole five bases in Thursday's game.
» The Bulldogs swiped five bases as a team.
» BSU pitchers faced 35 WLU hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out two.
» Dunham led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
GAME 2 | West Liberty, 6 - Bowie State, 4
The Bulldogs put together a valiant effort on Thursday, but ultimately came up short, falling to the West Liberty Hilltoppers (2-10) by the score of 6-4.
Junior Lindsey George (2-5) started and took the loss in the circle for Bowie State (5-12).
In the batter's box, the Bulldogs were paced by George, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run and three RBI. Pullen furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-2 with a triple. Braxton also helped out for BSU, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs were trailing 3-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. BSU plated two runs when George left the yard with Edmond aboard.
The Bulldogs deficit expanded to 5-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the fifth inning. BSU brought home a pair, with one run driven in by George's single, which brought the score to 5-4 in favor of the Hilltoppers. The Bulldogs were unable to get any closer, as WLU added one run to their tally on the way to a 6-4 final.
GAME NOTES
» The Bulldogs' highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed two runs across.
» BSU pitchers faced 31 WLU hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out three.
» George led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will spend the weekend in the "Tar Heel State" for the Mount Olive Invitational Saturday, Mar. 9-10 in Mount Olive, N.C., continuing its non-conference slate. A complete game schedule for the UMO Invitational can be found on the athletic website.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
