(PETERSBURG, Va. – April 10, 2012) Bowie State University picked up two divisional wins at Virginia State University, sweeping the Lady Trojans 10-1 and 15-6. The victories improve the Lady Bulldogs record to 15-11 overall, 11-1 CIAA and 6-0 in the North. Freshman Cara Nance went 6-for-9 and sophomore Haley Snyder went 5-for-9 to lead Bowie State back into first place in the division.
Virginia State’s Makia Noble put the Lady Bulldogs on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning with solo homer to left for a 1-0 lead.
Through four innings, Bowie State managed just two hits with those coming in the first inning. The Lady Bulldogs got their first base runner since a two-out, first inning single by Cara Nance, when Amanda Ray reached on a throwing error by VSU’s shortstop in the top of the fifth inning. Virginia State pitcher Jessica Mattia got Haley Snyder to ground out and struck out Raenelle Taylor and Mariela Hernandez to get out of the jam.
The Bowie State Lady Bulldogs’ bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning. Heading into today’s game, the Lady Bulldogs were the conference leader in batting average (.344). Justine Smith tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning on a double to left that scored Kiara Washington. Nance singled, scoring Smith and Adria Lewis followed with a single of her own to give Bowie State a 3-1 lead. Ray stepped up and single, advancing Nance to third. Snyder kept the hot bats going with a three-run home run to left, increasing the Lady Bulldogs advantage to 6-1.
Bowie State padded their lead at 10-1 in the top of the seventh via four hits and two Virginia State errors. The opening game victory was Bowie State’s ninth consecutive CIAA win.
Hernandez (6-5) pitched all seven innings, striking out one, walked three and allowed only four hits.
Smith, Nance, Snyder and Washington led Bowie State with a pair of hits each in game one. Lewis and Snyder drove in four RBI each for the Lady Bulldogs.
Mattia took the loss for Virginia State, giving up 11 hits (nine in the last two innings).
The second game was a slugfest in the first three innings of action. Virginia State plated four in the first inning to jump out to a 4-1 advantage.
Bowie State’s early run was unearned when Cassandra Clayborne scored on a passed ball in the top of the first inning.
Virginia State’s Ashley Bushrod laced a double to center field, pushing Mattia for the Lady Trojans first run in their half of the first. Endya Bailey doubled as well, scoring Jamisha Smith and Bushrod. Dominique Johnson stepped to the dish and hit a shot through the left side of the BSU defense, allowing Bailey to score.
The Lady Bulldogs tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the second on three hits and two Lady Trojans errors.
Bowie State took a 6-4 lead in the top of the third inning, banging out three more hits. Haley Snyder hit a leadoff double and Taylor reached on a throwing error, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Washington walked and Smith followed with a single scoring Snyder and Taylor.
Virginia State (16-18) squared the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the third on four hits. The damage could have been much worse as the Lady Trojans stranded three to end the inning.
Shelby Snyder (5-2) relieved BSU starter Haley Flint back in the second inning and seemed to find her groove as the game progressed. Snyder sat Virginia State down in order in the fourth and fifth innings and allowed just two hits in the bottom of the final inning.
Bowie State broke game two open in the final three innings, scoring two runs in the fourth and fifth innings respectively and five runs in the fifth to have the called off early via the NCAA 8-run rule.
Nance led Bowie State in game two with four hits in five plate appearances and recorded a game-high four RBI. Lewis and Ray wrapped up the nightcap with three hits in four at bats each.
As a team, the Lady Bulldogs recorded season-highs of 41 at bats, 21 hits and 15 RBI against Virginia State, all in game two.
Bowie State will make stop three of their four-team road swing at Elizabeth City State (4/14) and closeout the southern (divisional) swing at Chowan (4/15).
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