GLENVILLE, WV-- The Bowie State softball team (2-5) battled through a challenging weekend, playing four games at the Sue Morris Classic, hosted by Glenville State. The Bulldogs earned a hard-fought victory against Ashland and displayed resilience in closely contested matchups against Charleston (WV), West Virginia State, and Glenville State.

Game One - Charleston (WV) 9, Bowie State 1
The University of Charleston (4-1) jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning and continuing to add to their advantage in the second, third, and fourth innings. Bowie State managed to get on the board in the fourth when freshman Presleigh Braxton came across to score, but that was the only run the Bulldogs could muster. 

Bowie State's offense was limited to just three hits in the contest, with Coreena Dunham recording a double and Taylor Dawkins adding a triple. Pitcher Lindsey George started in the circle for the Bulldogs, while Ryalee Dillard provided relief.

Defensively, BSU faced challenges, committing three errors that allowed Charleston (WV) to capitalize and extend their lead. The Golden Eagles' pitching staff held Bowie State to a single run while striking out seven batters.

Game Two - West Virginia State 8, Bowie State 7
The Bulldogs came out swinging, scoring two runs in the first inning and adding four more in the second to take an early 6-2 lead. Braxton led the charge with two hits, including a key RBI double, while Dawkins contributed a crucial extra-base hit and a stolen base.

West Virginia State (2-2) responded with a steady offensive push, cutting into the lead with a run in the fifth before exploding for four runs in the sixth inning to take the advantage.

Sydney Seals and Rylee Reid combined on the mound for the Bulldogs, with Reid striking out two batters over two innings in relief. George also saw action in the circle, battling through a tough late-game stretch against WVS's lineup. 

Game Three - Bowie State 6, Ashland 2
BSU wasted no time getting on the board, as Dunham led off the game with a solo home run off Delaney Lis to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.

Ashland (3-3) responded to tie the game at 1-1, but Bowie State reclaimed the lead in the fifth when Dunham came around to score, making it 2-1. The Eagles answered once more, knotting the score at 2-2, before the Bulldogs surged ahead again with a two-run sixth inning to take a 4-2 advantage.

The Bulldogs pitching held Ashland scoreless the rest of the way, while their offense tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh, capped by freshman Ariana Ellerson's clutch two-out RBI single. The BSU maintained their 6-2 lead through the final inning, securing the victory with a strong all-around performance.

Game Four - Glenville State 7, Bowie State 3
The Bulldogs were down 5-0 in the sixth inning before finally breaking through. Jayla Hill put Bowie State on the scoreboard with a one-out solo home run off junior Kylie Burdick.

The Pioneers (5-4) extended their lead to 7-1, but the Bulldogs fought back in the seventh. BSU added two runs when freshman Braxton single drove in fellow freshmen Mikayla Amos and Kyla Richardson, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Despite the late rally, the Bulldogs couldn't complete the comeback, and the game ended with the Pioneers securing the win.

Up Next  
The Bulldogs will host its home opener in a non-conference doubleheader against Georgian Court University on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. at the BSU Softball field. 

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.