GAME 2 | Fayetteville State 5, Claflin 4
FAYETTEVILLE, NC --The Fayetteville State Broncos broke through after a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning to defeat the Claflin Panthers 5-4 Friday.
Sophomore Hannah Mills (7-4) got the win for Fayetteville State (14-18, 8-8). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on 10 hits, allowing two walks and striking out four.
Offensively, the Broncos were paced by sophomore Treja Patterson, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and two RBI. Freshman Xztashya Porter put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Junior Olivia Jackson also chipped in for Fayetteville State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Broncos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Porter put Fayetteville State on the board with a leadoff home run off freshman Ava Brown.
The Panthers then tied the ballgame at one before the Broncos came back to reclaim their advantage in the sixth inning. The Fayetteville State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Patterson, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of the Broncos. Claflin put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Fayetteville State still held on for the 5-4 win.
GAME NOTES
» Fayetteville State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Fayetteville State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Fayetteville State pitchers faced 32 Claflin hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out four.
» Patterson led the Broncos at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Claflin was led offensively by freshman Cydney Cooper, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
» Brown led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing six innings of five-run ball.
The Broncos will be back in action in Glenn Allen, VA where they will compete in the CIAA Softball Tournament beginning on Friday, May 3rd.
