PETERSBURG, Va. – The argument can be made that Jessica Mattia was the CIAA’s best pitcher in 2012.

There seems to be little debate now.

The All-Conference First-Teamer hurled two 1-0 shutouts in the opening rounds of play at the CIAA Softball Tournament, lifting the Virginia State Lady Trojans into the tournament’s semifinals where they will face Bowie State on the Virginia State campus at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Mattia (18-14), who tossed a 1-hitter to beat Fayetteville State to start the day, beat Northern Division champion Chowan 1-0 in the nightcap of games at the Petersburg Sports Complex on Thursday. She scattered four hits and struck out nine while walking just one against the Hawks.

The game was scoreless through three innings before Virginia State’s Jamishia Smith slapped a two-out single up the middle to score Brittany Payne with what turned out to be the game’s only run.

It was more than enough for Mattia, who drove in the lone run in the seventh inning in her win over Fayetteville State.

The Northern Division’s No. 3 seed, Virginia State (19-17) will play Bowie State, the North’s No. 2 seed, in the tournament semifinals.

Chowan (24-25), which got three hits from Leigh Ward, will play Johnson C. Smith at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Petersburg Sports Complex. Alora Lincoln (12-12) gave up six hits and struck out three in the loss.

North No. 2 Bowie State 7, South No. 1 Winston-Salem State 1

CIAA Player of the Year Cara Nance was 3-for-4 with two RBI as Bowie State clubbed defending league champion Winston-Salem State 7-1 to advance to the semifinals of the CIAA Softball Tournament.

League Rookie of the Year Cassandra Clayborne added two hits, as did Justine Smith as the Lady Bulldogs broke the game open with five runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Bowie State (20-14) chased Winston-Salem State starter Yasmin Lee (11-10) after four innings, then ripped All-CIAA pitcher Brittany Lane for five runs – four earned – on five hits in three innings.

Bowie State starter Shelby Snyder (8-3) allowed just one run on only three hits in the complete game effort.

The Lady Bulldogs will play Northern Division No. 3 seed Virginia State in the tournament’s semifinals at 12:30 p.m. on Friday on the campus of Virginia State.

Winston-Salem State (25-17) will take on Virginia Union at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Petersburg Sports Complex.