Gardendale, Ala. – The Clark Atlanta Lady Panthers softball team made a statement at the 2026 SIAC Crossover at Bill Noble Park, earning four key victories against West Division opponents in six games. A dominant pitching staff and high-powered offense fueled their success.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE (CLARK ATLANTA 4, KENTUCKY STATE 1)
The opener set the tone for the weekend. After a scoreless first frame, the Lady Panthers found their rhythm in the second inning with three runs. Andreya Hunter ignited the offense with a two-RBI single, followed by a
Makayla Marquez single to bring Hunter home.
Daria Bush extended the lead to 4-0 before fanning five batters to keep the Thorobreds at bay. The Panther pitching staff held Kentucky State scoreless until the sixth inning to seal the win.
GAME TWO (CLARK ATLANTA 8, LEMOYNE-OWEN 0)
CAU secured a defensive masterclass shutout, with Daria Bush allowing only four hits. Seven out of the nine in the batting order found their way to 1st base;
Lena Sellam and
Alexis Daphney teamed up for the early lead, while
Gabriella Aleman and Sellam added extra-base hits to mount a 4-0 advantage. The route continued with a two-run double from
Maliyah Ward in the fifth. Zoe Barrett closed the game in style with a two-run inside-the-park home run in the seventh.
GAME THREE (CLARK ATLANTA 8, MILES 0)
Building on their previous success, the Lady Panthers faced Miles College for their second consecutive shutout.
Andreya Hunter led the charge with three RBIs, supported by
Gabriella Aleman and
Makayla Marquez. On the mound,
Daria Bush threw a gem, surrendering only five hits across seven innings. The victory showcased a complete performance from both the dugout and the circle.
GAME FOUR (SPRING HILL 3, CLARK ATLANTA 2)
The competitive energy continued into game four—a gritty battle that required extra innings as CAU fell just short against the Badgers.
Jadin Broadnax gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the third, bringing home Aleman and Hunter. Spring Hill found the equalizer in the seventh frame to force a 10-inning marathon. Despite the effort, Clark Atlanta was unable to respond in the final frame, dropping a heartbreaker.
GAME FIVE (TUSKEGEE 10, CLARK ATLANTA 1)
Following a tough loss, the Lady Panthers struggled to contain the Tuskegee Tigers' heavy hitters. The lone score for CAU came after
Jadin Broadnax worked a full count to reach base safely.
Maliyah Ward was eventually pushed home to prevent the shutout. The Panthers looked to quickly regroup for the final game of the crossover.
GAME SIX (CLARK ATLANTA 6, LANE 1)
