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Box Score 2 SALEM, VA (April 29, 2019)- The VSU softball team remains the 2019 CIAA Championship winners' bracket, after taking down Johnson C. Smith (JCSU), 13-5, and defeating the unblemished Claflin University, 2-1.
The Trojans entered the championship as the no. 2 seed in the CIAA Northern Division with a conference record of 11-6.
After defeating the JCSU Golden Bulls earlier in the season, the Trojans were confident in the championship matchup. Virginia State defeat Johnson C. Smith in five innings by a score of 13-5. The Golden Bulls took an early 3-1 lead in the first inning but the Trojans took control by scoring six runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Both teams added a run in the third inning but Virginia State put the game out of reach by adding five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brooklyn Bilyard led VSU at the plate with three hits, including two doubles. Bilyard and teammate Kara Morris drove in four runs each to help the Trojans advance. The 13-5 victory moved the Trojans to the winner's bracket to take on the no. 1 seed in the CIAA Southern Division, the undefeated Panthers of Claflin University.
The first 3 scoreless innings gave the Trojans the momentum to advance Brooklynn Bilyard home off of a single from Sydnee Brown. The Panthers answered back at the bottom of the 4th inning with a run to tie the game 1-all. At the top of the 5th inning, Samantha Cunningham dashed across home plate after a fielding error on Claflin. The run gave VSU the lead and allow them to hold the Panthers to their single run.
Brooklynn Bilyard is credited with the much needed win after 5 strikeouts and 9 forced outs.
The victory advanced the Trojans to a Day 2 Championship Matchup against Winston-Salem State University on April 30. The matchup is set for 2:30pm at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, VA.
Stay connected with live stats HERE. (Please note, links will not be active until the start of the tournament).
For more information on the VSU softball program, visit govsutrojans.com, follow the Trojans on Twitter @VSUsports or call 804-524-5030.
