RALEIGH, N.C. – Fayetteville State (9-13, 1-3 CIAA) showed resilience and late-game fight, but an early surge by Bowie State proved too much to overcome as the Bulldogs claimed a 7–4 victory Friday at the CIAA Softball Round-Up.
Bowie State jumped out quickly in the top of the first inning, stringing together four hits to score three runs. Presleigh Braxton opened the scoring with an RBI bunt single, followed by run-scoring doubles from Makayla Amos and Audrey Newell to give the Bulldogs an early 3–0 advantage.
Fayetteville State threatened in the bottom of the first when Cheyenne Payne worked a walk and stole second base, but the Broncos were unable to bring her home. Bowie State settled in defensively and held Fayetteville State scoreless through the first four innings.
The Bulldogs added to the lead in the fifth inning when Newell homered to center field, extending Bowie State's advantage to 4–0. Newell finished the contest as a key offensive leader, reaching base multiple times and driving in runs in both the first and fifth innings.
Fayetteville State broke through in the sixth inning. After a quiet stretch offensively, Tiara Stueck delivered a solo home run to left field to put the Broncos on the board. The rally continued with singles from Claira Stone and Xztashya Porter, but Bowie State limited the damage to one run.
Bowie State answered in the top of the seventh with another productive inning. Coreena Dunham led off with a solo home run before the Bulldogs manufactured additional runs with timely hitting and a sacrifice bunt, pushing the lead to 7–1. Dawkins drove in a run with a single, and Adrianna Dockett added an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to cap the scoring.
Fayetteville State made one final push in the bottom of the seventh. Payne doubled up the middle and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Jackson. Treja Patterson followed with a two-run home run to center field, trimming the deficit to 7–4, but the comeback ended there.
Jackson and Patterson led the Broncos offensively, with Patterson's late homer providing a spark in the final inning. Stueck also added a home run and reached base twice. Payne reached base multiple times, stole a base, and scored twice. For Bowie State, Newell and Dunham accounted for the Bulldogs' home runs, while Braxton, Amos, and Dawkins each delivered key RBIs in the win.
Fayetteville State continues competition at the CIAA Round-Up as the Broncos look to build on their late offensive momentum moving forward.
