GLEN ALLEN, VA —The Bulldogs (18-21) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 7-6 win over Virginia State (21-4) on Friday afternoon.
Akira Pullen started in the circle and picked up the win for BSU. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up six runs, five earned, on 11 hits, allowing no walks and striking out six.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. BSU scored twice on a two-run double off the bat of Jayla Hill.
The Trojans then tied the ballgame at two before the Bulldogs came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. BSU scored twice on back-to-back home runs from Hill and Lindsey Georgewhich brought the Bulldogs lead to 4-2.
VSU narrowed BSU’s lead to 4-3 before the Bulldogs stretched the advantage to 6-3 in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs scored twice, with one run coming across Saniya Jones single.
The Trojans gained ground, closing the gap to 6-4 until BSU added some insurance in the seventh. Jahkya Watkins crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Bulldogs, bringing the BSU advantage to 7-4. VSU put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Bulldogs still held on for the 7-6 win.
GAME NOTES
» Hill led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Pullen struck out six Trojans hitters.
» BSU’s highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed two runs across.
» BSU took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn’t surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Four Bulldogs had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Bulldogs out-hit the Trojans at a 13-11 clip.
» BSU pitchers faced 33 VSU hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out six.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will face the winner of Claflin and Winston-Salem State in the semifinals on Saturday, May 4. at 3 pm from RF&P Park in Glen Allen, VA.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sports teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
