Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls

Victoria Lopez Fans Nine as JCSU Splits CIAA Twin Bill With Shaw

4/10/2016 7:09:00 PM

JCSU Sports Information

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Victoria Lopez Fans Nine as JCSU Softball Splits CIAA Twin Bill With Shaw

Charlotte, N.C. (April 10, 2016) – Behind a masterful pitching performance from junior Victoria Lopez, the JCSU softball team split a CIAA doubleheader against Southern Division foe Shaw University on Sunday afternoon at Biddleville Park.

Lopez' gem came in the first game of the afternoon.  She held the Shaw bats in check all afternoon, giving up just three hits while striking out nine Bear batters on the way to her fifth win of the season.

Offensively, the Golden Bulls scratched a run across in both the first and second inning to take a 2-0 lead.  Another run in the fourth pushed the lead to 3-0.  Shaw would then strike for two runs in the sixth inning to close the gap to 3-2.  JCSU added another run in the home half of the sixth to make it 4-2.  After Melissa Vierra (Tracy, Ca.) singled through the right side of the infield driving Breanna Archibald (Wendell, N.C.) to second, Lopez was able to bring Archibald home with a sharp line drive that struck Shaw pitcher Chyna Gross in the leg, ricocheting into right field, past the Bear second baseman.

Gross regained her composure, forcing a flyout to end the JCSU threat.  Lopez then took care of the Bears in order in the seventh to earn the 4-2 win.

JCSU was led by Vierra and Monique Jefferson (West Hills, Ca.), with both going 2-for-3 at the plate, with Jefferson driving in one run.  Lopez also had a great first game at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI.

In game two, Shaw jumped ahead 5-0 by scoring one run in the first and plating four in the third inning.  The Golden Bulls would then respond in the fourth inning by pushing three runs across, this time thanks to a two-run single from Archibald that scored  Tia Greene (Huntersville, N.C.) and Tia Mahoney (Hartwell, Ga.).  Jefferson would then single, scoring Archibald to cut the Bear lead to 5-3.

Shaw would push the lead to 6-3 in the fifth and would score twice in the seventh to provide the 8-3 final, as JCSU could not manage a serious threat in the seventh inning.

In game two, Jocelyn Hernandez (Bloomington, Ca.) would go 2-for-4 at the plate while Archibald finished 1-for-2 with two RBI.

With the split, JCSU improves to 9-11 on the season and now stands at 8-4 in CIAA play.  The Golden Bulls are also 5-1 in Southern Division play and currently stands in first place.

JCSU will host a key CIAA Southern Division doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 against Winston-Salem State.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Biddleville Park.