Orangeburg, South Carolina-The Edward Waters softball squad, ranked second in the latest HBCU Softball poll, hit the road for the first time to participate in the SIAC/CIAA Challenge, hosted by Claflin University. Edward Waters finished the two-day event with a 3-1 record, falling to Bowie State 5-2 in their first contest, then rebounding to shut out Fayetteville State 6-0 on Saturday. On Sunday, EWU knocked off Virginia State 8-6, then took a 1-0 victory to close out the Challenge against host school Claflin.

Saturday, Feb. 18th: Bowie State 5, Edward Waters 2:
The Lady Tigers dropped their first contest of the 2023 season against Bowie State in the Challenge opener. The Bulldogs scored one run in the bottom of the first, then added four more in the bottom of the fifth. Edward Waters tried to chop into the lead in the top of the sixth, plating two runs on a Caitlynne Lamug two-run homer. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Bowie State took the three-run victory. 

Katie Goodin led the Lady Tigers going 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Caitlynne Lamug finished 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI's and a run scored. Jodasea Peterson took the loss for EWU in the circle, going 5.0 innings, allowing six hits, five earned runs, four walks, and four strikeouts.

Saturday, Feb. 18th: Edward Waters 6, Fayetteville State 0:
Edward Waters got back on the winning track later in the day with a 6-0 victory over Fayetteville State. In the contest, Edward Waters racked up 10 hits in the contest. EWU scored three runs in the third inning, two more in the second, and another in the fifth to provide the final margin of victory.

Katie Goodin, Kylah Gardner, and Brooke Rice each finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the for the Lady Tigers. Shai-Ann Currie remained undefeated on her season, going 5.0 innings, allowed six hits, one earned run, and struck out two Broncos in the contest.

Sunday, Feb. 19th: Edward Waters 8, Virginia State 6:
The Lady Tigers and Trojans were locked up in a neck and neck battle in the first game on Sunday. Both teams scored in the first inning, but Edward Waters surged ahead in the top of the second with a run to take a 2-1 lead. VSU came back to tie things in the bottom of the fourth with a run to make it a 2-2 game. EWU added three more runs in the top of the fifth, but again, Virginia State was up to the challenge adding three more in the bottom of the fifth to knot the contest up again at 5-5. 

Edward Waters had a three run top of the sixth inning to surge ahead a 8-5,  while Virginia State added a run to make it an 8-6 game through six innings. The Lady Tigers were able to shut the door on Virginia State to earn a dramatic two-run victory.

Kylah Gardner and Katie Goodin each went 2-for-3 at the plate for EWU, whle Tiara Peters and Laura Scott each went 2-for-4. Milani Sablan made her first start of the 2023 season and earned the victory going 4.0 innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs, one walk, and struck out four.

Sunday, Feb. 19th: Edward Waters 1, Claflin 0:
The Purple & Orange faced host school Claflin in their final matchup of the Challenge. The only run scored in the contest came in the top of the first inning on Jade Mention's RBI single. After that, the Lady Tigers relied on quality pitching and defense to carry them two a one run victory of the Lady Panthers.

Laura Scott led the way for EWU going 2-for-3 at the dish with a run scored, while Caitlynne Lamug finished 1-for-2 with a walk. Newcomer Alyssa Charter-Smith was fantastic in her first start of the season. Affectionately known as. "Aussie", the West Wallsend, New South Wales, Austrailia native earned a complete game shutout, going 7.0 innings, allowed five hits, no earned runs, and struck out five.

Edward Waters will return to action on March 2nd for a home doubleheader against in-state foe Florida Memorial.

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