GLEN ALLEN, VA - The Claflin Lady Panthers (20-13) advanced to the championship final round of the 2022 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Championship Tournament with a dominating pitching performance in a 5-2 win over the Virginia State Trojans (20-12), Friday afternoon. The Lady Panthers added some terrific hitting to accompany the pitching effort to claim the win and remained in the winner's bracket of the tournament.
 
The Lady Panthers took the win behind a strong offensive effort. As a team, the Lady Panthers totaled 10 hits in the game with senior center fielder Camryn Hollis led the way with a three-for-four batting effort with a run scored and an RBI. Junior right fielder Brenay Howard added a two-for-four batting effort with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Though defense was the order of the day early, it was the Lady Panthers who were able to get things going when junior short stop Jaelyn Jackson hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Howard and put the Lady Panthers on top, 1-0 in the third inning. Claflin would add another third inning run when senior catcher Marion Goins hit an RBI double to score Hollis. The effort left the Lady Panthers on top 2-0. Claflin would add three fourth inning runs to go ahead 5-0 and the team would need the runs as a sixth inning Virginia State two-run home run would be all that the Lady Panthers would allow as the team claimed their spot in the championship round of the 2022 CIAA Softball Championship Tournament.
 
Claflin senior Bre'Zhay Chambers (9-5) took the pitching win. She started the game and threw all seven innings. She finished the game with two runs allowed (two earned) on seven hits with 12 strikeouts and just one walk allowed.
 
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 20-13 and they advance to the championship finals of the 2022 CIAA Softball Championship Tournament. The Lady Panthers will face the winner of the Virginia State/Bowie State game earlier in the day before taking the field at 2:00 p.m. For more information on Lady Panthers softball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.