ORANGEBURG, SC — Virginia Union used a dramatic two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to edge Fayetteville State, 4–3, in the opening round of the CIAA Softball Championship on Thursday night at Orangeburg Recreation Complex. The Panthers improved to 18–23 on the season, while the Broncos slipped to 19–20 and will continue tournament play in the losers' bracket of the double-elimination format, still very much alive in the title chase.
Virginia Union struck first in the top of the opening inning, stringing together four singles to plate an early run. Madison Hayes delivered the key hit with an RBI single, giving the Panthers a 1–0 advantage.
The score stayed that way until the third, when Elisia Gonzalez-Pettis doubled and later came around to score following an error, extending the lead to 2–0.
Fayetteville State answered in the bottom of the third as Aniya Caldwell lined an RBI single to right field, scoring A'Leah Wilson to cut the deficit to one. The Broncos then took their first lead of the game an inning later. Tiara Stueck provided the highlight of the night for Fayetteville State, launching a two-run homer to center field that scored Treja Patterson and put the Broncos ahead, 3–2.
From there, both pitchers settled in. Fayetteville State's Tamarah Lowery limited damage through the middle innings, while Virginia Union's Elisia Gonzalez-Pettis continued to keep the Broncos in check despite several scoring threats. Fayetteville State left three runners on base in the fifth inning, missing a chance to add insurance.
The game turned in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs, Madison Hayes singled to bring the tying run aboard. Elisia Gonzalez-Pettis followed with a towering two-run home run to center field, her second extra-base hit of the game, swinging the momentum back in Virginia Union's favor and pushing the Panthers ahead, 4–3.
Fayetteville State threatened in its final at-bat as Aniya Caldwell drew a walk, but the Broncos were unable to produce the tying run. Virginia Union closed out the win cleanly, securing the victory in the championship opener.
Gonzalez-Pettis paced the Panthers offensively, finishing with a double, a home run, and three RBIs, while also earning the win in the circle to improve to 10–6. Hayes added multiple hits and scored twice.
For Fayetteville State, Stueck's two-run homer accounted for the bulk of the scoring, while Caldwell drove in a run and reached base twice. Lowery suffered the loss, falling to 8–7.
Looking ahead in the CIAA Softball Championship, Fayetteville State will face Northern Division top seed Bowie State in an elimination-round matchup, with the Broncos needing a win to keep their championship run alive. Virginia Union, meanwhile, advances in the winners' bracket and will square off against Southern Division No. 4 seed Winston-Salem State.