SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State Softball squad opened Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this past weekend with a three game series in the new Lady Tiger Softball Field against Florida A&M University.

The Lady Tigers won the opening game 2-0 on Saturday behind a dramatic push out play, and took game two Sunday 6-4 with a walk-off homer. They fell to the Lady Rattlers in Sunday's second game 2-3 after a solo home run in extra innings sealed up win for the visitors.

Savannah State is 13-19 overall after the series and 2-1 in the MEAC. Florida A&M, who also opened conference play, are 14-21 overall and 1-2 in the MEAC.

A rainy Saturday cancelled the originally scheduled doubleheader and delayed the game for four hours. Once underway the Lady Tigers took an early lead behind a double from Jamie Paolini that scored Amber Hallman who reached on a single.

Working a full 7 innings in the circle, junior Madison Hedderly, (MEAC pitcher of the week March 11) held the Lady Rattlers to 5 hits and no runs with 4 strikeouts and 4 walks, garnering her ninth win of the season.

The Lady Tigers added the second run in the sixth inning. Tiffany Davies, pinch hitting, blasted a single to left field, scoring Arion Hagood who was pinch running for Paolini who reached on a single.

Heading into the top of the 7^th, Hedderly was one out from the shutout win when Tenish Dixon came to bat. Dixon blasted a double to the left field wall and made an attempt to run to third, but Lady Tiger left fielder Jessica Weimerskirk made the throw to her cut-off, short-stop Shamrya Adams who hit Hallman at third for the 7-6-5 pick off and game winning out.

Sunday, the Lady Rattlers, looking for a rebound to Saturday's shutout, jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Hedderly and company. Addie Dozier blasted a 3-run home run over the left field wall, scoring Kiefi Myric and Tera Gainer.

After four scoreless innings, the Lady Tigers' bats came alive in the sixth inning. Hallman scored India Morgan on a single, after Morgan reached on a single to right. Paolini plated Megan Uhrman on a single. Davies blasted a fly ball to left field that was dropped, scoring Destiny Webster and Ariona Hagood who were both pinch running for Chelsea Parrish and Paolini, respectively, to tie the game up at 4.

A scoreless seventh sent the game into extra innings. Hedderly put down the first three batters in the top of the 8^th with a strikeout and two fly-outs.  With two outs, Adams reached on an infield error and Savannah State freshman Katherine Stewart brought her home on a walk-off 2-run home run over the centerfield wall sealing up the rally and second MEAC win for the Lady Tigers.

Hedderly garnered her 10^th win of the season after 8 innings in the circle. She allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks.

In game two of Sunday's doubleheader, Savannah State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning behind a 2-run home run from Hallman, scoring Uhrman who reached on a single. Hallman leads the team in home runs on the season with a total of five and is third in batting with a .319 average.

The Lady Rattlers failed to answer in the next two innings, but posted a single run in the top of the fourth as Dixon blasted a double to left field, scoring Myrick.

A solo home run from Florida A&M's Whitney Robinson in the sixth tied the game up at 2 runs apiece. A scoreless seventh forced the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 8^th, Robinson blasted her second solo home run of the game for what would be the game winning run as the Lady Tigers failed to score in the bottom half of the inning.  

Davies was tagged with the pitching loss after a complete game in the circle. She allowed 3 earned runs on 7 hits with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. Flordia A&M's Jenn Lindsey garnered the pitching win after a complete eight innings. She allowed 2 earned runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks.

The Lady Tigers continue MEAC play with a road trip to North Carolina Central and a three game series Friday April 6 and Saturday April 7.