GLEN ALLEN, VA – The Virginia State Softball team's amazing season was concluded by the Bulldogs of Bowie State in the fourth meeting this season between the two teams. The Trojans were on the way to their fourth straight win against BSU until the top of the seventh inning when the Bulldogs scored five runs to go up by a pair of runs. After holding the Trojans scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning, BSU took the victory 6-4 to advance on to the Championship game against Claflin.
Samantha Cunningham was named to the All-Tournament team as a third base player after hitting .294 from the plate along with five runs scored and six RBI in the Quarter and Semifinals. She ended with three doubles and homeruns in back-to-back games against Claflin and Bowie. The Senior earned nine putouts and 10 assisted outs with no errors in five games in the CIAA Softball Championship.
How It Happened
Samantha Cunningham scored the first run of the game on a solo homer to take the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning. The Bulldogs immediately answered back in the top of the third inning with a run of their own scoring on a ground ball to the VSU shortstop to make the score 1-1. The Trojans found their rhythm in the bottom of the fifth inning after
Samantha Cunningham doubled to score
Alani Horton from third base.
Nia Hall would also come around to score on a wild pitch prior to
Desmyn Owens scoring
Samantha Cunningham on a single. The Trojans scored three runs on two hits and an error to take a 4-1 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning. With their season on the line, down three runs, Bowie State started to chip away at the VSU lead starting with a single that scored a pair of runs. They would go on to add another run on an error made by the VSU shortstop to knot the game at four. The Bulldogs added the go-ahead runs with a single that scored two base runners. The Bulldogs scored four runs on four hits and two errors to take a 6-4 lead. The BSU pitcher went on to retire the side in the top of the seventh inning, which allowed them to take the victory 6-4.
Top Performers
Alaijah Pratt: 2-4
Nia Hall: 1-3, Run, Double
Samantha Cunningham: 2-4, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, Double, Home Run
Desmyn Owens: 3-4, RBI
Andrew Riddick : 4 Inning Pitched, 4 hits allowed, 1 Earned Run, 2 Strikeout
