GAME 1 | Fayetteville State 13, Shaw 8

RALEIGH, NC -- Treja Patterson collected four hits to help lead the Fayetteville State Broncos past the Shaw Bears 13-8 on Friday. Kevana Deberry (3-4) started in the circle and picked up the win for Fayetteville State (7-15, 5-4). The right-hander went 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits, allowing three walks and striking out four. Tamarah Lowery also made an impact in the circle for the Broncos, throwing 2.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts.

In addition to her four hits, Patterson had two doubles and three RBI to lead the Broncos. Madison Heath compiled a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Claira Stone also chipped in for Fayetteville State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and two RBI.

The Broncos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. After the Bears rallied to tie the ballgame at three, the Broncos came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Fayetteville State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score to 5-3 in favor of the Broncos.

Fayetteville State kept Shaw scoreless before building their lead to 9-3 the following inning. The Broncos bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Patterson. The Bears gained ground, closing the gap to 9-7 until Fayetteville State added some insurance in the sixth. The Broncos scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Aniya Caldwell, bringing the Fayetteville State advantage to 13-7. Shaw put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Broncos still coasted to the 13-8 win.