JCSU softball picked up two wins during their "Strike Out Cancer" game and had a balloon release
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Game One Box
Game Two Box
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team celebrated two victories (13-0; 9-8) in their annual “Strike Out Cancer” game against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sunday afternoon at Biddleville Park. The Golden Bulls improve to 3-3 overall with a 1-1 record in conference.
JCSU blew out the Lady Dragons in a 13-0 fifth inning win. Freshman pitcher
Melissa Vierra (Tracy, CA) recorded a shut-out, no-hitter for her second victory of the season. Vierra had three strike outs in five innings pitched.
The Golden Bulls earned two runs in the first inning of game one. The contest grew out of reach for Lynchburg after giving up nine runs in the second inning. JCSU had seven hits in the second and tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. Both junior third baseman
Jasmine Jackson (Chester, SC) and sophomore
Stacy Peralta (Brooklyn, NY) had three RBIs, two hits, and one run scored off three at-bats.
In between games, JCSU wore pink uniforms for their support of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) “Strike Out Cancer” program. The purpose is to raise cancer awareness and prevention of the disease. The Golden Bulls softball team along with the Dean of Enrollment Services, Mrs. Cathy Hurd held a celebratory balloon release at home plate.
After all the festivities, the second game came down to a much more dramatic conclusion. The first two innings went scoreless. Lynchburg broke loose for four hits and six runs in the third. JCSU scored two runs in the bottom of the third. The Golden Bulls were trailing 8-5 going into the bottom of the seventh and final inning.
Vierra and Peralta both singled to get two runners on base. Sophomore first baseman
Kenya Austin (Virginia Beach, VA) reached first base off an error at second by the Lady Dragons. Austin represented the tying run. Junior
Ashton Byrd (Atlanta, GA) hit a single that allowed Austin to advance to third and scored Vierra and Peralta.
Sophomore centerfielder
Cabrisha Anderson (Atlanta, GA) drilled a sacrifice fly to midfield and Austin tied the game crossing home plate. With Byrd on third, junior
Britney Warren (Atlanta, GA) had the game-winning RBI up the middle to bring home Byrd.
“It was good to get both wins, we shouldn't have worked as hard for the second game, but that's part of our youth,” said JCSU head coach
Warren Brooks. “We played great in the first game, and then we took them for granted in the next game. Lynchburg came out hungry in the second game and we almost let it get away. But like I said, it's good we won, improved our record, and this still serves as a teachable moment.”
JCSU will remain at home for their next contest against Salem International on Sunday, March 3rd. First pitch in this non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Biddleville Park.
