After losing its first game of the 2004 CIAA Softball Championships to St. Augustine's 6-2, the Shaw softball team went on a tear winning its next four games over Fayetteville State, St. Augustine's, Winston-Salem State and North Carolina Central to meet Virginia State in the championship at Hornet Nest Park.

The match-up was a rematch of last year's CIAA Championship.  It was nearly an identical situation as last year, when Shaw lost its first game then won five-straight, whereas Virginia State came into the championship undefeated.  Shaw defeated Virginia State 8-5 in game one and 8-1 in game two last year to win the championship.

The difference between last year and this year however was the fact that Shaw had a chance to rest for two days since the games last year could not be played on championship day due to inclement weather.  The weary Lady Bears would have no such lick this year and not playing with a 100 percent All-CIAA performer Felicia Sprattley hurt the Lady Bears chances as they lost to Virginia State 8-3, thwarting their chance to repeat as CIAA Champions. 

Pitcher Shonda Welch was in control the first two innings not allowing a hit, while striking out two.  Shaw scored first in the top of the third as Tanesha Haynes singled then scored on a passed ball and two errors by the Lady Trojans to give Shaw the 1-0 lead.  Virginia State came right back in its half of the third as catcher Shana Walker's two-out single up the middle scored Katrina Rowson tying the score at 1-1.  

Perhaps the turning point in the game came with Shaw threatening to score in the top pf the fourth.  Andrea Blake reached on an error by the second baseman.  With one out Lavonia Cromartie's single moved Blake to third base and Cromartie advanced to second on the throw.  With one out and two runners in scoring position and Tiffany Barnes at the plate, Blake tried to steal home on a Tiya Hines passed ball.  Walker quickly recovered and threw in time to get Blake at home on a very close play that could have gone either way.  Barnes struck out to end the inning.

Virginia State then scored five runs in its half of the fourth two of which came on fielder choice RBI's with the bases loaded and led 6-1.  Haynes finished 3-for-4 on the day with a double.

Note: Welch, Blake and Dishondra Goree were all named to the 2004 CIAA Softball All-Tournament Team.  Welch went 2-2, struck out 32 in 32 innings pitched and opponents batted only .258.  She also batted .278, scoring six runs while driving in four.  Blake led the Lady Bears in batting with a .588 average, while scoring six runs and driving in four.  She recorded two doubles and had a slugging percentage of .706.  Goree batted .278 with 2 HR and 6 RBI while scoring six runs as well.