Virginia Union University's softball team scored nine runs in the fifth inning, capped by a grand slam home run by VUU's Jayanna Richards, to beat defensing CIAA champion Bowie State University 10-7 in a softball double-header on Saturday, April 6, at the VUU Softball Field in Richmond, Va.

VUU had entered the fifth inning trailing 7-1 to the Bulldogs, but the Lady Panthers staged a dramatic comeback started by singles by Kallie Garland and Jenna Nicolski.

Virginia Union's Brandy Roberts then shut down the Bowie State batters over the last two innings to give the Lady Panthers the win.

Bowie State defeated the Lady Panthers 8-0 in the opener despite Richards only giving up three earned runs.

"The first game did not go our way, we had costly errors that killed us in the first inning," said VUU Head Softball Coach Dominique Mulero.  "We put the ball in play but just could not find the holes. I am extremely proud of this team though because in the second game we came a little flat and gave up runs early, but we never gave up!  In the bottom of the fifth we did everything right.  We were patient at the plate, with great bunts from Jayda Robinson and Jenna Nicolski.  We loaded the bases for Jayanna Richards and she came through big with the grand slam. Brandy Roberts deserves a lot of praise as she gave us everything she had on the mound, and we played well behind her. This was a team win against a good Bowie State. We're going to keep this momentum for tomorrow against Lincoln University."

VUU is now 5-3 in conference play and is in third place in the CIAA Northern Division.

Virginia Union will now face Lincoln University of Pennsylvania in a double-header at the VUU Softball Field in Richmond, Va., beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.