ORANGEBURG, SC - The Claflin Lady Panthers (22-23) had a slight stumble in their quest for the 2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Championship as the team took a 4-2 loss to the Bowie State Bulldogs (26-17) in the semifinal round of the tournament. Some costly errors and some batting struggles proved to be too much for the team to overcome in the hard-fought loss.
 
The Lady Panthers ran into some tough defense in the game. As a team, the Lady Panthers totaled five hits in the game. Claflin sophomore third base Morgan Tate led the way with a two-for-three batting effort. She also added two runs batted in (RBI). She was the only Lady Panther with more than one hit in the game. Claflin senior outfielder Kennedy Baskerville recorded the sole extra-base hit for the team with a triple.
 
After allowing a pair of Bowie State runs in the third inning, the Lady Panthers tied the game in the fourth inning when Baskerville hit a two-RBI triple in the fourth inning. The Lady Panthers allowed Bowie State to pull ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lady Panthers also allowed a fifth inning run to the Bulldogs to seal the scoring.
 
Claflin sophomore Sydra Pendleton (4-7) got the start and took the pitching loss for the Lady Panthers. She three four innings for the team and allowed three runs (one earned) in the loss. She also recorded three strikeouts. Claflin sophomore Katelynn Grissom came in for two innings. She finished the game with run allowed (one earned) along with two strikeouts.
 
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to the loser's bracket and will take on the Winston-Salem State Rams in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m.
 
For more information on Lady Panthers softball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.