Head coach Warren Brooks has the potential to bring back his current roster with the exceptions of seniors Jasmine Jackson (#18) and Britney Warren
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Box Score 2 Petersburg, VA – The Johnson C. Smith University women's softball team suffered elimination from the 2014 CIAA Championship Tournament after a 5-1 loss to Virginia State University and a 10-2 loss to Virginia Union University on Friday, April 17th at the Petersburg Sports Complex. JCSU wraps up the season with an overall record of 13-25 and a conference mark of 8-8.
The Golden Bulls clashed against Virginia State for their first game of the tournament. VSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings of play. Both teams had a scoreless, hitless first inning. In the second inning, the Lady Trojans produced two hits and one run, including a double to right center by Raelea Taylor to score Cameryn Smith from second base.
In the third, CIAA All-Rookie third baseman
Morgan Hasty (Salem, IN) and senior outfielder
Britney Warren (Atlanta, GA) both singled for two potential game-tying runs. Unfortunately, both were left on base and no runs were scored in the inning. In the bottom of the third, Virginia State extended their advantage by adding five hits and three runs.
JCSU allowed one run and three hits in the fourth for a 5-0 deficit in the contest. The score remained the same until the seventh and final inning. Hasty blasted a solo homerun to left field for the Golden Bulls one and only run of the game.
Freshman pitcher
Victoria Lopez (San Diego, CA) was charged with the loss. Lopez allowed 12 hits, five runs, and one walk, along with six strikeouts.
The Golden Bulls dropped into the single-loss bracket to face nearby Virginia Union later in the afternoon. In the opening inning, CIAA Rookie of the Year shortstop
Jocelyn Hernandez (Bloomington, CA) singled to the left side for the first hit of the game. Warren took base on balls and eventually advanced to third. CIAA All-Rookie catcher
Monique Jefferson (West Hills, CA) recorded a RBI with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The hit scored Warren.
JCSU held a short-lived 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first. The Lady Panthers had four hits and four runs in the bottom of the initial inning for a 4-1 lead. In the second inning, Virginia Union extended their advantage with a 3-RBI homer from Renesha Chiles.
VA Union led 7-1 until the fourth inning. In the top of the fourth, Hernandez and junior centerfielder
Cabrisha Anderson (Atlanta, GA) mounted some offense for JCSU. First, Hernandez doubled to left field and eventually advanced to third. Anderson hit a RBI single to score Hernandez from third. The Golden Bulls would only have those two hits and one run will the remainder.
VUU put the game out of reach with three runs and two hits in the bottom of the fourth. The game concluded in the fifth inning due to the NCAA eight-run rule. Junior pitcher
Stacy Peralta (Brooklyn, NY) took the loss with seven hits and seven runs allowed.
Despite the unfortunate ending to the season, the Golden Bulls did make progress this year. Last season, the team finished 11-28 overall (.282) and 6-11 (.353) in the CIAA. JCSU improved their winning percentage to .342 (13-25) overall and .500 (8-8) in the conference this season.
