CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 17, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announces its Week Five Softball Honors for games played March 8 through March 14. The weekly awards recognize top performances in the circle, at the plate, and in the field across the conference.
Pitcher of the Week - Tamarah Lowery, Fayetteville State
Senior pitcher Tamarah Lowery delivered a dominant week in the circle for Fayetteville State, anchoring the Broncos staff with 16.0 innings pitched across two complete games. Lowery struck out 22 batters while allowing just five earned runs, posting a 2.19 ERA for the week. Her outings included a seven inning win against Bluefield and a nine inning performance against Carolina where she recorded 15 strikeouts.
Lowery limited opponents to 12 hits and 11 walks while consistently working out of high leverage situations, helping keep the Broncos in control and within reach throughout both contests.
Offensive Player of the Week - Presleigh Braxton, Bowie State
Junior outfielder Presleigh Braxton led Bowie State’s offense during a doubleheader sweep at the Salem Invitational on March 14, helping the Bulldogs secure wins over Concord and Salem. Braxton went 3 for 6 on the day with a double, two RBI, three runs scored, and two walks, reaching base five times while setting the tone at the top of the lineup.
In the opener against Concord, Braxton drew two walks and scored twice, using her speed and plate discipline to create scoring opportunities in the 4 to 1 victory. She followed with a 3 for 4 performance against Salem, adding a double, two RBI, and a run scored, including a key late extra base hit that extended the Bulldogs’ lead.
Braxton’s ability to consistently get on base and produce in key moments played a pivotal role in Bowie State’s offensive success during the sweep.
Defensive Player of the Week - Claira Stone, Fayetteville State
Junior catcher Claira Stone anchored the Broncos defensively behind the plate with a strong and steady performance across four games. Stone recorded 32 putouts and three assists during the week, including seven putouts in Fayetteville State’s 8 to 3 win over Bluefield and seven putouts with two assists in a 5 to 0 victory against Bluefield.
She added three putouts and an assist in a 6 to 5 win over Carolina before closing the week with 15 putouts in an extra inning nightcap. Stone effectively managed multiple pitchers to control the running game and handled late inning and extra inning situations without committing an error.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.