South No. 2 Fayetteville State vs. South No. 4 Johnson C. Smith

Tenesha Simmons belted a three-run triple to spark a seven-run sixth inning as Johnson C. Smith rallied past Fayetteville State and eliminated the Lady Broncos from the CIAA Softball Tournament after prevailing 11-6.

Fayetteville State (10-37) led 5-1 after four innings and was in front 5-2 entering the top of the sixth inning. But the Golden Bulls (17-26) opened the inning with three straight hits, the third a two-run double by Ashton Byrd to bring Johnson C. Smith within one, 5-4, setting up the rally.

Samantha Smith and Alexandra Buckley had three hits apiece for Johnson C. Smith, which racked up 15 hits. Elizabeth McElveen and Byrd were each 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Jessica Randolph and Sencerae Locklear each had three hits and two RBI for Fayetteville State while Shaniqua Edwards, Tia Caldwell, Sierra Holmes and Clarissa Pitts had two hits apiece.

Johnson C. Smith will play Chowan at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Petersburg Sports Complex.

North No. 4 Virginia Union 5, South No. 3 St. Augustine’s 4

Three players had three hits apiece as Virginia Union staved off elimination after clipping St. Augustine’s 5-4 in the loser’s bracket of the CIAA Softball Tournament.

Shireese Borden, Renesha Chiles and Danielle McEachern were each 3-for-4 while Takesa Rhodes had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Lady Panthers (12-27), who will play at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Petersburg Sports Complex.

Quincy Lewis (7-13) earned the win for Virginia Union, allowing four runs – one earned – on 10 hits.

Renitta White, Michelle Shackleford and Cierra Neal had two hits apiece for St. Augustine’s (12-22), which was eliminated from the tournament.