FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- The Fayetteville State Broncos rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning to defeat Bluefield University Rams 8-2 on Wednesday in the first game of the doubleheader.
Tamarah Lowery (4-6) earned the win for the Broncos (10-16 overall). The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Offensively, the Broncos were led by Treja Patterson, who went 2-for-4 with a grand slam home run. Olivia Jackson also contributed, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Laniyah Bethea added one hit in four at-bats and an RBI.
Fayetteville State scored first in the fourth inning when Patterson crossed the plate. Bluefield (12-23 overall) responded with two runs in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. The Broncos then exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Patterson's grand slam and Jackson's two-run single, bringing the score to 8-2.
The Broncos' highest scoring inning was the sixth, with seven runs. Fayetteville State out-hit Bluefield 5-3 and went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position. The Broncos drew seven walks from Bluefield pitching.
Bluefield was led offensively by senior Madison Blankenship, who went 1-for-3 with a double. Senior Hallie Cox pitched six innings, allowing eight runs.
