Tenesha Simmons had three runs scored on the day and made her pitching debut for the season against Salem International
Box Score 1 Game One Box
Game Two Box
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team lost to Salem International University (14-5, 18-5) in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Biddleville Park. JCSU moves to 0-4 in the standings, while the Tigers improve to 4-0 overall.
Freshman pitcher
Stacy Peralta (Brooklyn, NY) got off to a good start on the mound and at the plate. In the top of the first, she only allowed two hits and one run to the Tigers. In the bottom of the inning, Peralta smacked the team's first homerun of the season towards centerfield. Peralta brought home senior catcher
Samantha Smith (Whiteville, NC) and pushed the Golden Bulls ahead 2-1.
Salem International responded in the second with a 5-hit, 6-run inning. Jessica Bias sparked the scoring with a grand slam homer to left field. In the bottom of the second, Smith hit a RBI single up the middle of the field for senior
Tenesha Simmons (Melbourne, FL) to cross home plate. JCSU closed out the second inning with two hits and that one run.
The third inning was three up and three down for both teams. Salem International held a 9-3 lead after recording five hits and two runs in the fourth. Both Smith and Peralta had earned RBIs in the bottom of the fourth to draw the Golden Bulls within four (9-5).
The game grew out of reach for JCSU when the Tigers produced five hits and five runs in the fifth. The Golden Bulls ending up losing game one, 14-5 due to the NCAA eight-run rule after five innings.
Peralta picked up her third loss of the season, allowing 17 hits and 14 runs with one strikeout.
JCSU fell behind 6-0 after two innings in the second contest of the doubleheader. Junior second baseman
Alexandra Buckley (Charlotte, NC) started a rally with a 2 RBI double to score Simmons and sophomore
Jasmine Jackson (Chester, SC). Sophomore
Brittany Rowe followed up with a double to bring home Buckley. Senior left fielder
Elizabeth McElveen (Florence, SC) kept pace with a double of her own to score Rowe.
The Golden Bulls produced three hits and five runs in the bottom of the second to draw within one (6-5). Unfortunately, those were the only runs scored by JCSU. The Tigers went on to produce 12 more runs, including an 8-run fifth inning. Salem International won the second game due to the NCAA run rule as well.
Simmons was credited with the loss at the mound for game two. In her debut, she allowed 16 hits and 18 runs with one strikeout.
Johnson C. Smith will return to action on Sunday, February 19th against Concord University at Biddleville Park. First pitch in this home, non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
