Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Union University softball team dropped both games of a non-conference doubleheader to Thomas Jefferson University on Sunday at the VUU Softball Field.
Game One – Thomas Jefferson 7, Virginia Union 5
The Panthers battled back from an early deficit but could not hold the lead late as Thomas Jefferson claimed the opener, 7-5.
Thomas Jefferson took control early with runs in the second and fourth innings to build a 4-1 advantage.
Virginia Union mounted its biggest rally in the sixth inning.
Jenna Nicolski sparked the comeback with a solo home run to center field. Later in the inning,
Janiya Brown drove in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Ty'Hiera Wooten followed with a two-RBI single to give the Panthers a 5-4 lead.
Thomas Jefferson answered in the seventh inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score three runs and regain the lead at 7-5.
Virginia Union was unable to mount another rally in the bottom of the inning.
VUU Extra Base Hits
Scoring Summary
- 1st inning (VUU): Janiya Brown scored on an RBI groundout to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
- 2nd inning (JEF): Thomas Jefferson tied the game with a solo home run.
- 4th inning (JEF): The Rams added three runs, including another home run, to lead 4-1.
- 6th inning (VUU): Nicolski hit a solo homer. Brown later scored on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and Wooten delivered a two-RBI single as VUU took a 5-4 lead.
- 7th inning (JEF): Thomas Jefferson scored three runs to secure the victory.
Game Two – Thomas Jefferson 7, Virginia Union 0
In the second game, the Rams jumped ahead early and kept the Panthers off the scoreboard in a 7-0 victory.
Thomas Jefferson opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run home run. The Rams added three more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a run-scoring double and a two-run homer.
Two additional runs in the sixth inning completed the scoring as the Panthers were unable to generate sustained offense.
VUU Extra Base Hits
Scoring Summary
- 1st inning (JEF): Two-run home run gave Thomas Jefferson an early 2-0 lead.
- 3rd inning (JEF): A run-scoring double followed by a two-run homer pushed the lead to 5-0.
- 6th inning (JEF): The Rams added two more runs to make the final score 7-0.
Coach's Comments
"The first game we got down early, and we fought back into the game, but what we've been saying all season is we have to learn to finish," said VUU Head Softball Coach
Dominique Mulero. "I love the fight we showed but we have to continue to make the routine plays! The second game we came out flat and just could not find ways to string hits along and score runs! We cannot win games without runs!"
Up Next
Virginia Union returns to action on
March 18 when the Panthers travel to Murfreesboro, N.C., to face Chowan.
