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Clark Atlanta University Athletics

Ben Ennis

Softball

Softball Takes Series From Claflin

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Atlanta, Ga. – Going into the weekend home series against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) foe Claflin University, the Clark Atlanta University Panthers (8-27, 4-11 SIAC) softball team knew that they needed to win at least two games to keep their postseason hopes alive. The team wouldn't wait for all three games to get those two wins, as they won the first two games of the series on Saturday, 7-3 and 17-16, before dropping Sunday's contest 13-4.

Saturday's games seemed like they would never start, as the two teams watched as the start time kept getting pushed back due to wet field conditions, before finally getting started around 6 pm. The delays didn't seem to faze the Lady Panthers as they would jump on the visitors early, despite a home run from the first Claflin batter of the game, and a solid pitching performance from freshman Veranae Woods would shut CU's offense down in route to the victory. Five different players would record an RBI in the game, including Jessica Vason who added three this and two runs. V. Woods pitched a complete game for CAU in the victory.

Game two would see the two teams erupt for a combined 33 runs and 34 hits in a three-hour affair in which the home squad came away with the victory, thanks to Jolene Nazaire's walk off run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a V. Woods single. Claflin held a commanding lead for most of the game, before a nine run inning in the bottom of the sixth would catapult the Lady Panthers right back into the lead at 16-12, going into the final inning.

The top of the seventh inning would see the visiting team tie the game up once again at 16 as the clock approached midnight. After a KaShaira Givens single, Nazaire entered into the game to run for her and quickly advanced around the bases, before V. Woods would end the game for the home squad, while getting the win on the mound in relief as well. Givens would blast two home runs in the contest, finishing the day with five RBIs.

Sunday's game, which had originally been scheduled for Friday before the rains came, was Clark Atlanta's chance to send a message to the rest of the teams in the SIAC, but those plans did not work out how they hoped as they dropped the final contest. The Lady Panthers led the contest after the first inning, 4-3, thanks to a Sharnitra Woods three-run home run. V. Woods once again took the mound and pitched a complete game in the run-shortened affair, with sister S. Woods finishing with three RBI.

The Clark Atlanta Lady Panthers, now right back in the thick of the SIAC postseason race, will finish up their regular season this week as they host a makeup game with Fort Valley State on Wednesday (4 pm), before hosting Paine College in the regular season finale on Friday (5 pm) and Saturday (1/3 pm).

For more information, please log on to claratlantasports.com.
 
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