Ashton Byrd had four hits and two runs scored, along with two wins on the mound on day one of the CIAA Softball Roundup
Box vs. Chowan
Box vs. Elizabeth City State
Box vs. St. Paul's
Raleigh, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team suffered a loss to Chowan University (15-5), but bounced back with victories against Elizabeth City State University (8-7) and St. Paul's College (22-21) to close out day one of the CIAA Softball Round-up held at the Walnut Creek Complex.
Game one against the Chowan Hawks was knotted up 1-1 heading into the third inning. JCSU gave up four hits and three runs in the top of the third to face a deficit. The Lady Golden Bulls scored another run in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the sixth. However, allowing five runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh was too much for J.C. Smith to overcome.
Junior pitcher
Tenesha Simmons (Melbourne, FL) was charged with the loss after giving up 10 hits, 10 runs, and five walks with 23 at-bats. Freshman first baseman
Jasmine Jackson (Chester, PA) stepped up with two hits and two runs scored, despite the loss.
Game two versus Elizabeth City State went into extra innings before Johnson C. Smith won their first game of the season. The Lady Vikings held a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the third. JCSU broke loose in the third with five run and three hits, including a 3-RBI homerun from senior utility
Kawehi Chan (Honolulu, HI) for the lead.
ECSU tied the score 5-5 with two runs in the fourth, then moved ahead 7-5 with two runs in the sixth inning. Senior left fielder
Ashley Williams (Temple Hills, MD) smacked a RBI double down the right side, which brought home sophomore shortstop Alexandria Buckley (Charlotte, NC). Williams crossed home plate later in the inning due to fielding errors by the Lady Vikings.
The ball game was tied 7-7 at the end of the sixth and neither team produced a run in the seventh inning. Johnson C. Smith took advantage of their opportunity to win in the bottom of the eighth. With freshman center fielder
Britney Warren (Atlanta, GA) on third base; Buckley hit a heroic single straight up the middle to break the tie, score Warren, and earn the first JCSU victory (8-7) this year.
Freshman pitcher
Ashton Byrd (Atlanta, GA) tallied her career win with five strikeouts after facing 30 batters.
The third and final game of the day against St. Paul's was a marathon; lasting a little over three hours before JCSU pulled out the win. Both teams scored at least one run in all seven innings. After plenty of scoring on both sides, the contest came down to the bottom of the seventh.
The Lady Tigers scored four runs at the top of the seventh to take a 21-19 lead. After a passed ball then a wild pitch, Buckley and Williams scored to lock the game up at 21-21 apiece. Simmons took base on balls then advanced to third on passed balls. Chan brought Simmons home with a RBI-single, which also won the game.
Byrd was awarded her second victory of the day with some relief from Chan. Byrd faced 12 batters, allowing five hits, nine runs, eight walks, and two Ks.
The Lady Golden Bulls return to the field at Walnut Creek on Sunday, March 13th to face two more CIAA Northern Division opponents. JCSU will take on Bowie State at 9:00 a.m. followed by an afternoon contest against Virginia State at 4:30 p.m.
