RALEIGH, N.C. – Fayetteville State built early momentum with timely hitting, but Virginia Union used a decisive nine-run fourth inning to pull away for a 12–3 victory Sunday at the CIAA Softball Round-Up.
The Broncos wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Isabella Rumbold led off with a single and later came home when Sydney Jackson delivered an RBI double to left-center field, giving Fayetteville State a 1–0 lead.
Virginia Union answered in the second inning to even the score. After drawing a leadoff walk, the Panthers put runners in scoring position, and a sacrifice bunt by Chloe Dawson brought in the tying run to make it 1–1.
Fayetteville State briefly regained control in the third as Xztashya Porter powered a solo home run to put the Broncos back in front, 2–1. Virginia Union responded again in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a pair of singles and free passes to push across two unearned runs and take a 3–2 advantage.
The Broncos responded once more in the fourth when Madiaon Heath connected for a solo home run, knotting the score at 3–3 and marking Fayetteville State's second long ball of the game.
Virginia Union broke the contest open in the bottom of the fourth, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs on eight hits. The rally featured a mix of power and patience, beginning with run-scoring hit batters and walks before a series of key hits extended the lead. Dawson delivered a pivotal two-run single, while Elissia Gonzalez-Pettis drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Madison Hayes added two RBIs with a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly, and Danae Goree, Jenna Nicolski and Jailyn Myrick each drove in runs during the outburst.
Fayetteville State was unable to mount a response in the fifth, as Virginia Union closed out the game without allowing a baserunner.
Porter and Heath led the Broncos offensively with solo home runs, while Jackson finished with an RBI double. Rumbold reached base twice and scored the game's opening run. Despite the final score, Fayetteville State showed early offensive execution and power against conference competition.
The Broncos continue to play at the CIAA Softball Round-Up as they take on Virginia State at 3:30 pm today.
