Tenesha Simmons smacked a three-run triple to ignite a seven-run sixth inning as JCSU rallied past Fayetteville State in game two of the CIAA Tournament
Box vs. Chowan
Box vs. Fayetteville State
Ettrick, VA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Chowan University, but avoided elimination with an 11-6 win over Fayetteville State University on day one of the 2012 CIAA Tournament played at the Petersburg Softball Complex. JCSU improves to 17-28 overall and will face Chowan again on Friday, April 20th at 10:30 a.m.
In the first contest against the Hawks, JCSU took a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning. With junior
Alexandra Buckley (Charlotte, NC) on third; senior
Tenesha Simmons (Melbourne, FL) hit a sacrifice bunt for a RBI to bring home Buckley. Senior
Elizabeth McElveen (Florence, SC) came through with a single to the shortstop which scored CIAA All-Rookie freshman
Stacy Peralta (Brooklyn, NY) from third.
Another sacrifice bunt was made by senior
ShaDella Reese (Atlanta, GA) to McElveen and All-CIAA senior
Samantha Smith (Whiteville, NC). JCSU had two hits and four runs in the seventh to take a 6-4 advantage in the final inning.
Unfortunately, Chowan was able to respond offensively in the bottom of the seventh. The Hawks produced three hits and three runs to capture a 7-6 victory and advance to the winner's bracket. A two RBI double down the left field line by Liz Hipple won the game for Chowan.
In game two, the Golden Bulls were victorious due to some late game heroics. Simmons belted a three-run triple to spark a seven-run sixth inning as JCSU rallied past Fayetteville State and eliminated the Lady Broncos from the tournament with an 11-6 win.
Fayetteville State led 5-1 after four innings and was in front 5-2 entering the top of the sixth inning. However, the Golden Bulls opened the inning with three straight hits; the third a two-run double by sophomore
Ashton Byrd (Atlanta, GA) to bring JCSU within one (5-4) and set up the rally.
Smith and Buckley had three hits apiece for Johnson C. Smith, which totaled 15 hits for the team. McElveen and Byrd were each 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Jessica Randolph and Sencerae Locklear each had three hits and two RBI for Fayetteville State, while Shaniqua Edwards, Tia Caldwell, Sierra Holmes and Clarissa Pitts had two hits apiece.
The tournament has a two-loss elimination format. The Golden Bulls must remain unbeaten the rest of the way to bring home the championship.
