The Bowie State/Claflin softball rivalry continues to turn out amazing chapters with the story ending in similar fashion for the third straight year.
Freshman Mikayla Amos’ two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning sparked a three-run rally to lift the Bulldogs over the Panthers 7-6 in the CIAA softball championship game in Orangeburg, SC.
Bowie State (27-18 in 2025) has now won three straight CIAA tournament crowns, all three coming against Claflin in the tournament final.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁, 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱! 💍 #BulldogNation | #BiteDown | #ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/1kRU33Qe0B
— Bowie State Athletics (@BSU_Sports_Info) May 3, 2025
Claflin (24-24) forced a winner-take-all game with a 5-2 win earlier in the day. Panther pitcher Katelyn Grissom went the distance, scattering five hits and two runs across seven innings of work. Lauren Foster went 3-for-4, just a homer shy of the cycle with two RBIs for the Panthers.
The winner-take-all game was a seesaw affair as the lead changed hands several times going into the bottom of the sixth inning. With Claflin up 6-4, Amos ripped a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring Mykhl Young and Jayla Hill to tie the game.
Tournament MVP Coreena Dunham’s fly ball to left field scored Sydney Edmond a couple of batters later with the winning run for Bowie State.
Makayla Drakeford got the win in relief, allowing just one hit in three innings of work.
Bowie State will learn who their opponents will be in the NCAA Division II tournament Monday May 5 at 10 a.m.
