WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Carolina University hosted Johnson University for the second game of a Softball double-header on Tuesday, April 20th. The Bruins won the first game and extended their season best win streak to 5 games in a row. CU got out of the gates fast again and scored 2 runs in the bottom of the first. This time the Royals responded and evened the score at 2 after the top of the third. The Bruins quickly bounced back and took a 3-2 lead into the fourth inning. The defenses really stepped in and made some incredible plays through the fourth and fifth innings. Johnson University then tied the game at 3 in the top of the sixth inning. The score remained tied heading into the seventh. The Royals then hit a 3-run homerun to take the 6-3 lead. The Bruins tried to rally, but just couldn't manufacture the runs and fell 3-6. 

Lyric Ryan pitched a complete game for the Bruins in this one and struck out 3. Missy Smith led the way on offense as she went 2-3 with a double and 2 RBIs. Smith has been on fire over the last 5 games. She is batting an incredible .706, has 11 RBIs, and 7 doubles over that stretch. Kayli Cook had another strong performance to close the regular season. She went 2-3 and scored 2 runs. Cook has been incredible this season batting .487, reached based in all but 1 game this year for a whopping .530 OB%, scored a team high 24 runs, and led the team with 37 hits.

Carolina University finished the season with a record of 13-15 and qualified for the NCCAA South Regional Tournament. The Bruins will play Trinitiy Baptist in Jacksonville, FL on April 30th through May 1st. The winner of this 3 game series will earn a bid to the NCCAA National Tournament. This is the first time in program history that the Bruins qualified for the Regional Tournament and they have aspirations to keep playing and earn their first ever appearance at Nationals.