ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. --The Shaw Lady Bears rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the fifth inning to top the Elizabeth City State Vikings 7-6 Saturday in the first game of a CIAA Northern Division softball doubleheader at South Park Sports Complex. The Lady Bears fell 12-1 in the second game.

Shaw is 5-7 in the CIAA and 5-17 overall. The Lady Bears step out the conference on Tuesday, April 18, to host Salem College at Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C.

GAME 1 | Shaw 7, Elizabeth City State 6
Sophomore D'Amani Gadson (2-7) got the win for Shaw. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up six runs, three earned, on nine hits, allowing four walks and striking out three.

Junior Syhia Marks led the way offensively for the Lady Bears, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a triple. Junior Krystal Walker compiled a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI. Gadson also helped out, going 1-for-3 for Shaw with a walk and two RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Lady Bears tied the game in the third inning. Junior Bri'Anna Chavis came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw and get Lady Bears on the board.

The Vikings broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the fifth inning, when the Lady Bears got back on the scoreboard. Shaw picked up two runs when a single from Gadson scored senior Regina DeDecker and sophomore Nataya Truitt, which evened the score at 3-3.

Elizabeth City State broke the tie and grabbed a 5-3 lead moving into the sixth, when Shaw grabbed the advantage at 7-5. The Lady Bears' bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Chavis. Elizabeth City State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Shaw held on for the 7-6 win.

GAME NOTES
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Gadson faced 35 Elizabeth City State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out three.
» The Lady Bears drew four walks from Elizabeth City State pitching.
» Marks led the Bears at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple.
 

GAME 2 | Elizabeth City State 12, Shaw 1
Sophomore D'Armani Gadson (2-8) started and took the loss in the circle for Shaw.

Gadson led the way offensively for the Lady Bears, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a double. Senior Regina DeDecker furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bears got the scoring started early, putting a run on the board in the top of the first inning. DeDecker came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw and get the Lady Bears on the board. The Lady Bears were unable to hold the lead as Elizabeth City State scored 12 times over the remaining four innings to grab the 12-1 win.

GAME NOTES
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed one run across.
» Gadson faced 32 Elizabeth City State hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and six fly balls while striking out two.
» Gadson led the Lady Bears at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double.