RALEIGH, NC - The Claflin Lady Panthers (9-11, 0-1 CIAA) faced a tough challenge in their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) opener when they took a 3-2 loss to the Bowie State Bulldogs (5-12, 1-0 CIAA) at the 2026 CIAA Softball Round Up, Thursday afternoon. Both teams played a solid game, but the Lady Panthers could not get the runs across the plate in the tough loss.
 
After allowing a second-inning run to the Bulldogs, the Panthers tied the game, 1-1 in the third inning when junior Morgan Tate scored on a passed ball. The team took a fifth-inning lead when junior outfielder Lauryn Foster hit an RBI bunt that gave Claflin a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, the Lady Panthers allowed a pair of sixth-inning runs to fall behind 2-3 and took the conference opening loss.
 
As a team, the Lady Panthers had a solid outing with fie total hits. Foster led the way going one-for-three with the RBI.
 
Claflin junior Sydra Pendleton (4-3) got the start and she threw six innings of the game. She recorded two strikeouts. Fellow junior Katelynn Grissom came in for an inning and she finished with a strikeout.
 
With the loss, the Lady Panthers fall to 9-11 overall and 0-1 in CIAA play. The team will return to action later in the day when they take on the Lincoln (Pa.) Lady Lions. 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.