Bowie State 5, Fayetteville State 4
Orangeburg, S.C. | Orangeburg Recreational Park
Bowie State kept its CIAA Softball Championship hopes alive Thursday night, rallying with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge Fayetteville State 5–4 in elimination-round action.
The contest was a tightly contested pitching duel for most of the night, as both offenses were held scoreless through the first three innings. Bowie State broke through first in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on Fayetteville State defensive miscues to score two unearned runs and take a 2–0 lead.
That advantage held until the top of the seventh, when Fayetteville State mounted a dramatic rally. After reaching base on an error, the Broncos tied the game on a two-run single by A’Leah Wilson. Moments later, Sydney Jackson delivered the biggest hit of the inning, blasting a two-run home run to left field to give Fayetteville State a sudden 4–2 lead.
Facing elimination, Bowie State responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After putting runners aboard, Presleigh Braxton delivered the decisive blow, ripping a bases-clearing double to center field to drive in three runs and complete the walk-off comeback for the Bulldogs.
Braxton led Bowie State’s offense by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases. India Stokes, Angela Nguyen-Nhu, and Samiyah Abdul-Khabir each contributed to the late rally as the Bulldogs finished with six hits.
In the circle, Aaliyah Amos went the distance for Bowie State, striking out 11 while allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits to earn the win and improve to 8–7 on the season. Tamarah Lowery took the loss for Fayetteville State despite a strong effort, fanning 10 batters in 6.2 innings of work.
For Fayetteville State, Wilson drove in two runs while Jackson provided a spark at the plate with a two-run homer and a stolen base. The Broncos finished with seven hits but were undone by late defensive lapses.
With the victory, Bowie State advanced in the elimination bracket, keeping its tournament run alive. Fayetteville State was eliminated from the CIAA Softball Championship, closing its season at 19–21.