Allycia Watanabe pitched the second game and almost mounted a comeback, but JCSU fell short 10-9
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Charlotte, NC – The JCSU Lady Golden Bulls softball team fell short of their second win with two losses (13-5, 10-9) against Benedict College on Wednesday afternoon at the Biddleville Park. Johnson C. Smith moves to 1-13 in the overall standings, while the Tigers improve to 7-3.
J.C. Smith stayed in contention early in game one, before losing their grip in the fifth and sixth innings. The score was tied three apiece heading into the third. Junior catcher
Samantha Smith (Whiteville, NC) singled to get on base in the first. Freshman shortstop Alexandria Buckley (Charlotte, NC) smacked a double to left center, which scored Smith, and gave JCSU their first run.
Seniors
Nijah Braddox (Brooklyn, NY) and
Rashondae Henderson (Caruthersville, MO) crossed home plate in the second inning for JCSU. Braddox doubled to center field to take base and Henderson was walked. Both from third base with bases loaded; the batter was either walked or hit with the pitch.
The Tigers created some distance in the fifth inning by scoring four runs. Infield errors allowed Benedict to take a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Lady Golden Bulls produced four hits and runs in the fifth. Unfortunately, JCSU still faced a 9-5 deficit. Benedict responded with four runs and three hits in the sixth.
LaKeeya Ramsey struck out three batters in the sixth to give Benedict a 13-5 win in the sixth (due to the NCAA run rule).
Freshman pitcher
Tiarra Hines (Charlotte, NC) suffers a loss in pitching debut. Hines gave up eight hits and walked 11 with 24 at-bats.
Game two started out pretty rocky for JCSU with the temperature and rain dropping steadily. The Lady Golden Bulls were down 9-1 in the bottom half of the third inning. J.C. Smith caught fire in the third with five hits and six runs.
The Tigers scored another run in the fourth and JCSU put one on the scoreboard in the sixth to account for a 10-8 Benedict advantage heading to the final inning. Junior pitcher
Allycia Watanabe (Waipahu, HI) had three up, three down to start the inning.
Sophomore first baseman
Alexis Webb (Durham, NC) singled to center field to start the JCSU rally. Junior outfielder
Ashley Williams (Temple Hills, NC) took base on balls and Smith was hit by the pitcher. Watanabe singled towards the shortstop to score Webb and load the bases. J.C. Smith trailed 10-9 with one out and bases loaded.
Williams was tagged out at third after a single from Buckley. Senior centerfielder
Mauranda Elliott (Tabor City, NC) singled infield and Smith caught the final out heading towards home plate.
The Lady Golden Bulls had 14 hits, seven RBIs, and 10 base on balls in the second contest.
JCSU will now set their sights on the CIAA Softball Round-up in Raleigh, NC at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The round-up will take place March 12-14 with Western Division teams facing Eastern opponents. Johnson C. Smith will face Elizabeth City State on Friday, March 12th for the kickoff.
