The Lady Golden Bulls stuck together and finished 3-4 at the CIAA Roundup against the Northern Division
Box vs. Virginia Union
Raleigh, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team earns an 11-3 win against Virginia Union University on the final day of the CIAA Roundup held March 12-14th at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. JCSU improves to 3-14 overall and 3-4 in the conference standings.
After day one, the Lady Golden Bulls were 2-1 against CIAA Northern Division opponents; followed by a 0-3 day two. Johnson C. Smith was defeated by Bowie State (9-3), Lincoln PA (13-5), and Virginia State (13-5). With only the VUU Lady Panthers on the slate for the third and final day, JCSU stepped up and performed well.
The Lady Golden Bulls wasted no time in this matchup; jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first three innings. Senior catcher
Samantha Smith (Whiteville, NC) started things off with a single to left field. After a pop fly from freshman pitcher
Ashton Byrd (Atlanta, GA); Smith stole second and advanced to home plate off an infield error by the first baseman.
Junior second baseman
ShaDella Reese (Atlanta, GA) and freshman center fielder
Britney Warren (Atlanta, GA) also scored for a three run, two hit first inning. Junior pitcher
Tenesha Simmons (Melbourne, FL) was stout on the mound, quickly dismissing the first three batters in the top of the second.
Senior
Kawehi Chan (Honolulu, HI) and
Ashley Williams (Temple Hills, MD) both hit singles to take base and start the offensive attack in the second inning for JCSU. After a few wild pitches, both also crossed home plate. Reese blasted a triple to left field to score
Ashton Byrd (took base on balls). The next batter grounded out for the third out, but the damaged was done.
J.C. Smith continued the route in the third with a four-run, two-hit inning. Sophomore shortstop Alexandria Buckley (Charlotte, NC) hit a RBI double to left center, followed by a two RBI double to the same spot by Williams.
Virginia Union produced one run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth, but faced a 10-3 deficit. Johnson C. Smith ended the game on a triple to left center, which brought home freshman
Alexis Hughey (Atlanta, GA). JCSU won the contest due to the NCAA eight-run rule.
Simmons earned her first victory of the season, only allowing seven hits and three runs with two strikeouts and 21 at-bats.
“We did well, but of course I wish we could have done a little better,” said head coach
Jovon Times. “Overall, we're comparable to the other teams in the conference and I feel confident that we'll make it to the CIAA Tournament. This upcoming stretch against our division will show us more of where we are as a squad.”
JCSU returns to the diamond on Friday, March 18th for their first Southern division contest against Shaw University. First pitch in this divisional double header is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in Raleigh, NC.
