ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The Bowie State softball team (22-20) split a pair of games during day one of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Championship Tournament on Wednesday, May 7 falling to Winston-Salem State 7-1 before surviving elimination with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Fayetteville State.
Game One: Winston-Salem State 7, Bowie State 1
Bowie State was unable to overcome an early deficit in the opening game against Winston-Salem State.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the first inning when
Presleigh Braxton walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly from
Aaliyah Amos to cut the deficit to 2-1.
WSSU answered with two unearned runs in the third inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Bowie State threatened in the inning after loading the bases but was unable to capitalize.
The Rams added a solo home run in the fourth inning before tacking on two more runs in the seventh to secure the 7-1 victory.
BSU finished with four hits in the contest while Winston-Salem State recorded 10 hits.
Game Two: Bowie State 5, Fayetteville State 4
Facing elimination, Bowie State responded with a walk-off victory over Fayetteville State to keep its championship hopes alive.
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning after capitalizing on FSU's errors.
Soleil Bond-Johnson reached on a throwing error before
India Stokes singled. Angela Nguyen-Nhu later reached on a dropped fly ball, allowing both runners to score.
The Broncos rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring four runs to take a 4-2 advantage, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jackson.
Bowie State answered in the bottom half of the inning. Nguyen-Nhu singled and
Samiyah Abdul-Khabir was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard before Braxton delivered a walk-off three-run double to center field to lift the Bulldogs to the 5-4 victory.
Aaliyah Amos tossed a complete game in the circle, allowing just one earned run while striking out 11.
Top Performers
Game One Against Winston-Salem State:
•
Presleigh Braxton: 1 hit, 1 run, stolen base
•
Makayla Drakeford: 3.0 IP, 4 strikeouts
•
Sydney Seals: 2.0 IP, 2 strikeouts
Game Two Against Fayetteville State:
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Presleigh Braxton: 3 hits, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases
•
Aaliyah Amos: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 11 strikeouts
• Angela Nguyen-Nhu: 2 hits
•
India Stokes: 1 hit, 1 run scored
Up Next
The Bulldogs will face Northern Division No. 3 seed Virginia Union today, May 8 in the second round of the elimination bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Orangeburg Recreation Park.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
