HENRICO, VA (May 7, 2023)- The Claflin Lady Panthers (32-11) played some stellar defense to claim a 1-0 win over the Bowie State Bulldogs (34-14), Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Panthers force a decisive game to determine the 2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Champions.
Defense was the order of the day for both teams with both teams finding hits and runs hard to come by, but in the end, the Lady Panthers were able to claim the win. As a team, Claflin totaled four hits in the game while holding Bowie State to just four hits as well. Freshman catcher Zecariya Fenwick led the way with a two-for-three batting performance with a double and a run scored.
The sole score of the game came in the fifth inning when senior outfielder Brenay Howard hit and RBI fielder’s choice that scored Fenwick.
The run was all that was needed as the Lady Panthers played some staunch defense. The team had no fielding errors and had a great pitching performance from the pitching duo of sophomore Breyanna Collins (12-5) and senior Jaelyn Jackson. Collins started the game and threw 4.2 innings. She finished with no runs allowed on two hits and two strikeouts. Jackson came in for 2.1 innings and she finished the game with no runs allowed on one hit with a strikeout.
With the win, the Lady Panthers advance to the final round of the 2023 CIAA Softball Championship Tournament and the team will face the Bowie State Bulldogs in a decisive final game at 6:30 p.m. at the RF&P Park in Henrico, Virginia. 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.