The Bowie State Bulldogs Softball team will travel to RFP Park in Henrico, Virginia, on May 6, at 10 am to take on the Virginia State Trojans in the CIAA Semifinals. Bowie advanced to the semifinals after defeating Elizabeth City 14-6 in the quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs will have their hands full in the semifinals against Virginia State, a team they lost to twice earlier in the season in a doubleheader where they were outscored 16-3. However, Bowie still finished the season with the best record in the CIAA Northern Division and was crowned division champions. The Bulldogs finished 23-18-1 overall. The last time Bowie State won a CIAA championship happened when the team completed a 3-peat winning the Conference title from 2006-09.
Bowie State’s tremendous season is thanks to a mix of talented freshmen and experienced upperclassmen. Bowie finished with six players receiving conference honors from the CIAA, including Graduate senior Evelyn Buehlman, who was named the CIAA Player of the Year and First Team All-CIAA at the utility position. Buehlman batted .405 this season with 15 doubles and 37 RBIs. Buehlman was also dominant on the mound, finishing the season with ten wins, 86 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.95. She was joined on the first-team all-conference list by Senior Outfielder Shayna Gordon and Freshman Alyssa Cloutier. Cloutier was also awarded CIAA Rookie of the Year after leading the conference in runs scored (51) and stolen bases (36). While Gordon led the CIAA in RBIs with 43.
The Bulldogs will have to lose two games before being eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. To download the CIAA Championship Bracket, click Here (PDF). For more information on Bowie State Softball, visit Softball – Bowie State University Athletics (bsubulldogs.com).
