When Shaw and Winston-Salem State faced off in today’s CIAA doubleheader softball game, not only did east meet west, but perhaps the best two teams in the league were facing each other.  Shaw won its 14th game of the season but also lost its 13th game of the season splitting the doubleheader with the Lady Rams 10-2 in five innings and 9-5 at Sanderford Road Park. 

In game one Shaw starter Shonda Welch struggled in the first inning, walking in two runs and giving up a total of four walks in the inning as the Lady Rams took a 2-0 first inning lead.  The Lady Bears (14-12, 14-1) came right back in their half of the first as Felicia Sprattley led off with a walk and Tanesha Haynes reached on a bunt single.  Winston-Salem State starter Heather Davis (12-7) retired the next two batters.  With two on and two out and a 3-2 count Andrea Blake drove Davis’ pitch over the left field fence and Shaw led 3-2.  Shaw got three more runs in the second and four more in the third.  Sprattley’s double down the left field line drove in a run and she also scored on an RBI walk by Blake in the second and Branda Best’s two-run double in capped off the third.

           
 Welch (7-5), who pitched a no-hitter victory yesterday against Virginia State, went five innings giving up two earned runs and striking out three.  Shaw walked nine, but gave up only two hits in earning her fifth-straight victory.  Davis pitched four innings giving up eight earned runs, six walks while striking out three.  Shannon Davis was 2-for-3 with one run scored for the Lady Rams.

      
 Game two would be much different for the Lady Rams as Winston-Salem State scored one run in the second and two runs in the third on Welch.  But Welch would settle down not allowing any runs or hits the next two innings.  Sprattley would relieve Welch in the sixth and three errors in the inning would allow the Lady Rams to take a 6-0 lead.  But Shaw would get to Amber Nance in its half of the sixth producing five runs in the inning.  The inning was capped off with Lavonia Cromartie’s full-count two-out two-run double scoring Dishondra Goree and Blake as Shaw trailed 6-5 heading into the seventh.  But errors would again be the Lady Bears downfall as they committed three more in the seventh allowing Winston-Salem State to have some breathing room as three more runs would come across the plate giving the Lady Rams the 9-5 lead.  Shaw would have one more chance in their half of the seventh.  Joia King walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Sprattley bunt singled her over to third, but was thrown out at the plate.  Sprattley then tried to score on a groundout by Haynes and was thrown out at the plate as well. 

Amber (5-0) earned the victory giving up five runs on eight hits, while striking out four.  Welch (7-6) picked up the loss giving up two earned runs on four hits.  L’Tisha Bell had two hits for the Lady Rams and Sprattley had two hits for the Lady Bears.

 Shaw will play at St. Augustine’s tomorrow in doubleheader action at 1:00 p.m.