ETTRICK, VA  – The Trojans had their backs against the ropes against Virginia Union in the Quarterfinals of the CIAA Softball Championships. In a situation where VUU needed a pair of wins to advance, they took the first game of the doubleheader 4-3. With their season hanging in the balance, the Trojans eight-run ruled the Panthers 10-2 in the second game to advance to the Semifinals to face the Bowie State.
 

Game 1
After both squads were held scoreless in the first inning, the Panthers got on the board first with a single to third base 1,to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the second inning, Macy Beville tied the game at one on a passed ball. The Panthers notched another run in the top of third inning with a single into right field to give VUU the lead back 2-1. A throwing error from the VSU catcher allowed VUU to advance home before scoring another run on a single into center field to extend their lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Macy Beville singled into center field to score Samantha Cunningham. Machenze Flood stayed hot throughout the game earning a triple to score Beville from first base to make the score 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Trojans were held to just one hit in the last two innings of the first game to give VUU the win 4-3, which forced a game two.

 
Top Performers
Alaijah Pratt: 1-3, Walk, Stolen Base
Samantha Cunningham: 1-3, Run, Walk
Desmyn Owens: 1-3, Walk
Macy Beville: 2-4, 2 Run, RBI
Machenze Flood: 1-2, RBI, 2 Walks, Triple
Desmyn Owens: 7 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs, 3 strikeouts, 1 Walk

 
Game 2
Unlike the first game,  the Trojans were able to push the run of the game across on a single up the middle to score Machenze Flood. Nia Hall added another single to score Julia Jones. Serenity Barbee came around to score on a hard hit single to right field off the bat of Samantha Cunningham. After Desmyn Ownes reached on a fielders choice, Alaijah Prratt was able to touch all four bags while Nia Hall scored on a single into center field by Macy Beville. Machenze Flood rounded out the inning with a double that drove Desmyn Owens and Macy Beville in to make the score 7-0 in the bottom of the forth inning. The top of the third inning saw the Trojans extend their lead to double digits as Alani Horton doubled into left field to score Alaijah Pratt. Alani Horton and Nia Hall came around to score on a hard hit single into left field to make the score 10-0. The Panthers would answer back with a pair of runs coming around to score on a double into left field to make the score 10-2. In their last chance to score a run to extend the game to seven innings, VSU earned a three-up, three -down inning to win the game 10-5 in the top of the fifth inning.

Top Performers
Alaijah Pratt: 2-3, 2 Runs, RBI, Triple
Nia Hall: 3-3, 2 Runs, RBI
Desmyn Owens: 2-3, Run, 3 RBI
Machenze Flood: 2-3, Run, 2 RBI, Double
Alaijah Pratt: Win, 5 Innings pitched, 2 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Walks
 

Up Next
Virginia State will face the Bulldogs of Bowie State University in the Semifinals of the CIAA Softball Championship on Friday, May 6^th at RF & P Park in Glen Allen, VA with first pitch starting at 10:00 a.m.