Box Score

Raleigh, NC - The Fayetteville State University women's softball team suffered a 12-4 loss to Virginia State University and a 3-2 loss to Bowie State University for elimination from the 2015 CIAA Championships held Thursday, April 30th at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. FSU concludes the season at 16-14 overall and 11-5 in the conference, along with two All-CIAA and All-Rookie team selections.

The Lady Broncos began the day with an 8:30 a.m. matchup against Virginia State. All-CIAA junior centerfielder Alex Wickham (Fayetteville, NC) sparked FSU with a leadoff triple to right field. All-CIAA and All-Rookie catcher Shi-Cara Goins (Asheboro, NC) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, which scored Wickham.

All-Rookie pitcher Carley Green (Fayetteville, NC) protected a 1-0 lead on the mound until the bottom of the third. Virginia State recorded two hits and two runs in the bottom of the third. Jameshia Smith hit a 2-RBI homerun to left center for a 2-1 VSU lead. Fayetteville State answered with three runs at the top of the fourth.

Virginia State snuck in two hits and one run in the bottom of the fourth. The Lady Broncos led 4-3 entering the fifth inning. McKenzie Love checked into the game for Lindsey Wilkins on the Lady Trojans' pitching mound. Aside from sophomore third baseman Rebekah Reep (Fayetteville, NC) being hit by a pitch, Love had three forced outs in the fifth.

Cameryn Smith broke the game open with a grand slam homerun in the bottom of the fifth. The shot gave VSU a 7-4 advantage moving into the sixth inning. Sophomore outfielder Ivory Gladden (Greensboro, NC) had the lone hit for FSU in the sixth, but no runs were scored.

Virginia State exploded for five hits and five runs in the sixth to close out the contest. VSU advanced with a 12-4 victory in six innings due to the NCAA eight-run rule.

Game two versus Bowie State had a much slower pace for the Lady Broncos. FSU allowed two runs in the first inning and a run in the third for a 3-0 deficit. A pitching duel between Green and Nicoleen Ochoa took place in the fourth through sixth innings. Fayetteville State still trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman outfielder Maggie Smith (Fayetteville, NC) and freshman catcher Vanessa Kokoszka (Sanford, NC) both singled to start a rally. Gladden picked up a RBI off a fielder's choice, which brought home Smith. Wickham came through with a RBI single to the right side to score Green. Unfortunately, a pop up to the shortstop concluded the rally and the FSU season.

Green pitched the complete game with two strikeouts and nine force outs.

Fayetteville State improved from a .342 (13-25) winning percentage last season to a .533 (16-14) winning percentage under first year head coach Jackie Stickley. FSU has no seniors on the roster and the potential to return with an experienced team.