ORANGEBURG, SC (May 2, 2023) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (29-10) put on a defensive showcase to take a 5-0 win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (10-16) in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Championship Tournament. The Lady Panthers took the win behind a strong defensive effort as the team didn’t allow their opponents past second base in the win.
Along with their strong defensive effort, the Lady Panthers also added some solid offense. In the first inning, the Lady Panthers took advantage of a JCSU fielding error to score their first run of the game and added another run on a single from senior first base Alexandria Beavers that drove in freshman catcher Zecariya Fenwick. The team added another fifth inning run when a passed ball allowed sophomore centerfielder Aniya Jones to score. Freshman designated player Kourtney White added another score after a Fenwick RBI single that gave the Lady Panthers a 5-0 lead.
As a team, the Lady Panthers totaled eight hits in the game. Fenwick led the way for the team with a two-for-three batting performance with a run scored and two runs batted in (RBI). Senior right fielder Brenay Howard went two-for-three with two doubles and two runs scored. Sophomore centerfielder Aniya Jones added a two-for-three batting effort with a run scored.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 29-10 overall and the team advances to the semifinal round of the 2023 CIAA Softball Championship Tournament. The team will go on to face the winner of the Winston-Salem State/Elizabeth City State game. For more information on Lady Panthers softball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.