Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone softball team split a doubleheader with the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls Tuesday, picking up it’s first conference victory of the season.
With the victory, the Blue Bears’ record improved to 5-13 overall and 1-10 in the CIAA.
In the second game of the day the Blue Bear bats came alive in the early innings. The Golden Bulls went down in order in the top of the first and then Livingstone put up four runs in the bottom of the opening frame.
Michelle Thompson got the inning going with a single and scored on an error by the pitcher which allowed Elicia Gilliam-Washington to reach base. Gilliam-Washington scored on a single by Shaniqua Harrison. Two more hits allowed Harrison to score the third run of the inning and Amanda Short scored the final run of the bottom of the first after an error allowed Shanice Wilcox to reach.
After the Golden Bulls failed to score in the top of the second, the Blue Bears again got the bats going, sending 10 batters to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits and two Golden Bulls errors. After two full innings, the Blue Bears led 10-0.
Johnson C. Smith put its first runs of the game on the board in the top of the third as it plated three runs on one hit and one Livingstone error. The Golden Bulls proceeded to score one run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and trailed 11-6 after six complete innings.
In the top of the seventh, the Golden Bulls tried to stage a rally, but were only able to score one run and left two on base to reach the final score of 11-7.
The first game of the day was a battle between the Blue Bears and Golden Bulls. The two teams went scoreless in the first inning, but the Golden Bulls were able to get on the scoreboard first in the top of the second, scoring two to go up 2-0.
Livingstone pushed its first run across the plate in the bottom of the third, scoring one run on one hit along with three errors by the Golden Bulls. Thompson led off the third with a single and then advanced to second on an error. Thompson stole third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
After a scoreless fourth, Johnson C. Smith scored three runs in the top of the fifth behind three hits and one Livingstone error.
Going into the bottom of the sixth, Livingstone still trailed 5-1 and Thompson started the inning with a single to left field and came around to score on a three-base error by the left fielder. After a strikeout, the Blue Bears looked to extend the rally. Harrison reached on an error and then was called out at second base on a questionable call which all but killed the Blue Bear rally.
The seventh inning was scoreless on both sides and the Golden Bulls took the first game 5-2.
Thompson led the Blue Bears offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Shaniqua Harrison pitched all seven innings, allowed five hits and struck out 14.
The Blue Bears will return to the diamond on Thursday afternoon when they host the St. Augustine’s College Falcons at 1 p.m.