ELIZABETH CITY, NC --The Fayetteville State Broncos took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to an 11-7 win against the Virginia Union Panthers on Friday.
Braynka Brown started in the circle and picked up the win for Fayetteville State (7-14 overall, 2-2 CIAA). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up seven runs, all of them earned, on 11 hits, allowing three walks and striking out four.
In the batter's box, the Broncos were led by Brown, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a home run and two RBI. Treja Patterson put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Laniyah Bethea also contributed for Fayetteville State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Broncos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Fayetteville State plated two runs when Brown left the yard with Olivia Jackson aboard.
The Broncos then held the Panthers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Fayetteville State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the Broncos lead to 4-0.
Fayetteville State held Virginia Union scoreless before expanding their lead to 9-0 the following inning. The Broncos bats heated up in the inning, scoring five runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Bethea.
The Panthers (3-14 overall, 1-3 CIAA) fought back, closing the gap to 9-4 until Fayetteville State added some insurance in the fourth. The Broncos scored two runs off of Virginia Union pitching, punctuated by a run-scoring double from Patterson, bringing the Fayetteville State advantage to 11-4. Virginia Union put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Broncos still coasted to the 11-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Patterson picked up three base hits in the game for Fayetteville State.
» Fayetteville State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed five runs across.
» Fayetteville State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Fayetteville State pitchers faced 33 Virginia Union hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and six fly balls while striking out four.
» The Broncos drew four walks from Virginia Union pitching.
» Brown led the Broncos at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
» Virginia Union was led offensively by senior Arianna Burford, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Senior Summer Moroch led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing 3.2 innings of two-run ball.
