State scoreboard, Thursday, May 7

Freshman Wylan Sheffield pitched the only two complete
games by the Panthers this year, winning both. (Claflin photo) 

Player of the day: Wylan Sheffield, Claflin, W, CG, 7 IP, 5H, 0 R, BB 3 K 

* Claflin (7-36) scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second and 17 runs in the third inning and coasted past host Virginia State (13-26) to win the CIAA Championship Series in Ettrick, Va. 

It was the third win in as many days for coach Jaylan Bledsoe's Panthers, who sent 22 batters to plate in the third. Claflin got 12 hits - 11 of them singles - and drew 12 walks and seven hit batsmen.

Wylan Sheffield (2-11) pitched a five-hit complete game to register the Panthers' first shutout of the season.

Devyn Campbell, Nehemiah Drew and Anthony Hardy had two hits and four RBI apiece. Drew also scored four runs, while five teammates scored three apiece.

Claflin started the season 0-2, then won three straight games before a 24-game losing streak followed. After ending that streak with a walk-off win over USC Beaufort, the Panthers lost their final 10 games of the regular season.

The NCAA Division II Central Collegiate Athletic Conference does not sponsor baseball, so four member schools with baseball programs compete in other leagues or as independents. Claflin competes in the Peach Belt Conference.

 The Championship Series is not recognized as an official CIAA championship - but a championship is a championship, and Claflin took one home.

Beyond the border
* ACC: Miami took the opener of a home series with Louisville 13-8.
* ACC standings: Georgia Tech 19-5; North Carolina 17-7; Boston College 17-10; Florida State 15-9; Miami 14-11; Wake Forest 14-13; Virginia 12-12;  N.C. State 12-12; Virginia Tech 13-14; Pitt 10-14; Stanford 10-14;  Notre Dame 11-16; Louisville 10-15; Duke 9-15; Clemson 8-16; California 8-16.

* SEC: No. 11 Mississippi State handled No. 6 Auburn, 10-3

* SEC standings: Georgia 18-6; Texas A&M 15-8; Texas 15-8; Mississippi State 15-10; Auburn 14-11;  Alabama 13-11; Arkansas 13-11; Florida 13-11; Oklahoma 12-12; Ole Miss 12-12; Kentucky 11-13; Tennessee 11-13; Vanderbilt 10-14; LSU 9-15; South Carolina 7-17; Missouri 4-20.

CIAA Championship Series
Whaley Colbert Stadium, Ettrick, Va.
Claflin 24, Virginia State 0, 7 innings - Cla: Nehemiah Drew 2-4, 2 BB, SB, 4 R, 4 RBI

NCCAA South Regional

Toccoa Falls College

Fort Lauderdale 11, Toccoa Falls 9

Fort Lauderdale advances to NCCAA World Series
(1/1237)