Claflin Softball Defeats Shaw, Secure No. 1 Seed in the South in 2019 CIAA Tournament

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Raleigh, N.C. (Apr. 7) – The Claflin University softball team swept Shaw University, 13-3 and 13-2, in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) double header Sunday, Apr. 7. With the sweep of the Lady Bears on Sunday, Apr. 7 and the sweep over Winston-Salem State on Saturday, Apr. 6, the Lady Panthers secured the No. 1 Seed in the Southern Division for the upcoming CIAA Softball Tournament scheduled for April 29-May 1 in Salem, Va.

Claflin pushed its record to 30-13 overall and 16-0 in the CIAA. Shaw falls to 3-10 overall and 3-9 in the CIAA.

Remaining undefeated did not come easy in game one for Claflin, who had to come from 3-1 down to defeat Shaw.

The Lady Bears scored a run in the opening inning, and one in each of the third and fourth, to take the 3-1 advantage over the Lady Panthers, who scored a run in the top of the third.

Claflin offense came to life in the top of the fifth as the put three runs up on the scoreboard.

After holding Shaw scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Panthers offense erupted for nine runs in the top of the sixth to take the 13-3 lead. The Lady Panthers defense held strong in the bottom of the inning to take the 10 point win.

Claflin did not leave any room for the Shaw offense to get going in game two.

The Lady Panthers scored one run in the first and six in the second to take a seven run lead. Shaw scored one run in the bottom of the third but Claflin put up four runs in the top of the fourth to expand the lead to 11-1.

The Lady Bears scored one additional run in the bottom of the inning but Claflin offense continued to dominate, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth en route to the 11 run victory.

LaKaylin Lee led Claflin in game one going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Shaniya Thomas came on in relief to pitch 2.2 innings to pick up her 11^th win of the season.

Kaela Robinson contributed three hits with three runs in the double header and Kayla Cato went 3-for-5 with two runs and five RBIs on the day.

Yemaya Rich went all five innings in game two, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts against 20 batters faced to pick up third win of the season.

Claflin will travel Gaffney, SC this Thursday (Apr. 11) to face Limestone College in a non-conference double header. The Lady Panthers will close out the CIAA regular season next Sunday, Apr. 14 when they travel to Livingstone College.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Kayla Cato: IF; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#99 LaKaylin Lee: P/OF; 5' 2"; Senior; L/R

#21 Yemaya Rich: P; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#13 Kaela Robinson: IF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#10 Shaniya Thomas: P; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#24 Kayla Cato
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#99 LaKaylin Lee
: 5' 2"; Senior; L/R
: P/OF

#21 Yemaya Rich
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: P

#13 Kaela Robinson
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#10 Shaniya Thomas
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: P