April 26, 2008

The Johnson C. Smith University softball team were eliminated from the 2008 CIAA Softball Championships. Playing their third game in one day, JCSU fell to Virginia State 9-8 in seni-finals.

JCSU started the tournament on Thursday, April 17th posting a 1-1 record. They defeated Virginia Union 7-5 but fell to Bowie State 7-3 sending them ot the loser's bracket.

On Friday, the team defeated Shaw University (7-3) and Fayetteville State University (8-5), eliminating both teams from the tournament. Unfortunately for the Golden Bulls, the team would have to face Virginia State University in their third game of the day. A win would send JCSU to the championship game for the first time since 2002.

VSU jumped out early (7-0), but JCSU rallied in the second to cut the lead to one (7-6). JCSU eventually tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the seventh inning, with the score tied at seven-all, VSU scored two runs while JCSU was only able to muster one. Virginia State moved on to the championship game while JCSU was eliminated by a score of 9-8.

Senior catcher Nicole Villarreal and freshman pitcher Allycia Watanabe were both named to the All-Tournament Team.