Virginia State's Explosive 6th Inning Secures Win Against Fayetteville State
Orangeburg, SC– The atmosphere was electric as the Virginia State Softball team kicked off the 2025 CIAA Softball Tournament in a thrilling first-round clash against the Fayetteville State University Broncos. What unfolded was a nail-biting contest packed with unforgettable moments and dazzling plays.
Right from the get-go, the Broncos made their presence felt, storming ahead in the top of the 1st inning with a powerful trio of runs. Treja Patterson ignited the offense with a clutch RBI single, followed by Morgan Jackson's impressive double that drove in two more runs—one of them unearned—setting the stage for an intense showdown.
Not to be outdone, the Trojans struck back in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Alaijah Pratt delivered a key single, bringing the score to 3–1 and igniting a spark of hope for VSU fans.
The tension mounted as Virginia State clawed their way back to tie the game at 3–3 in the bottom of the 5th. The highlight? An exhilarating triple from Mylia Knight that sent shock waves through the stands!
But the real fireworks came in the bottom of the 6th inning, as VSU unleashed a torrent of offense, tallying 5 runs and taking control of the game. The inning featured an electrifying RBI bunt single by Jaya Diggs-Hagwood, a standout triple from Shamya Hankins, and an impactful RBI double by Nia Hall. Notably, only one of those five runs was earned due to defensive slip-ups by FSU, adding to the drama.
With the game on the line in the top of the 7th, FSU dug deep, mounting an impressive comeback that included 4 runs. Porter fueled the charge with a powerful RBI triple, followed by contributions from Olivia Jackson and an RBI single by Angelica Locklear. A critical error by VSU allowed FSU to extend the inning, intensifying the suspense.
Despite Fayetteville State's valiant effort in the final moments, Virginia State held its ground, clinching the victory with a nail-biting final score of 8-7.
The Trojans advance to the next round to go against the Panthers of Claflin University on May 1, 2025, at 6 pm.
