DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Savannah State softball team split a doubleheader with the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats in a battle for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division,  Saturday at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Lady Wildcats suffered their first conference loss of the season in the opening game as SSU took the game 3-2 in the 8^th inning behind a 2-run homer from Jamie Paolini. In the second game Bethune-Cookman put up 6-runs early and the held the Lady Tigers, winning 6-2.

Both teams are at .500 with Savannah State holding a 21-21 overall record and a 9-2 MEAC record, while Bethune-Cookman sits at 25-25 with a 10-1 MEAC record. The three-game series concludes Sunday with the last matchup. The winner of Sunday's game will take control of first place in the South Division. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

In the first inning of the opening game Amber Hallman scored after Paolini singled and advanced on the throw. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Wildcats knotted up the score as Karina Romero scored on an errant throw after reaching on a single and a base hit from Cesley Tafoya advanced her to third.

The score remained tied at 1 run apiece through the next three innings. In the seventh, the Lady Wildcats put a runner in scoring position but a forced pop-up and ground-out sent the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Paolini blasted a center over the centerfield wall scoring Hallman who walked for a 3-1 Lady Tiger lead. In the bottom half of the eighth, a quick inning was shaping up as the first two batters grounded out and lined out respectively. But, Michelle Banuelos-Smith blasted a home run over the left field wall to cut the run deficient to one. A fly-out from Sabrina Ferguson ended the game.

Madison Hedderly picked up her 15^th win of the season after a complete 8 innings in the circle. She allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. Shanel Tolbert was tagged with the loss after 8 innings of work. She allowed 3 earned runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

In game two, after a scoreless inning, Savannah State opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Hedderly blasted a home run over the centerfield fence scoring Chelsea Parrish who reached on an error giving SSU a 2-0 lead.

The quick lead didn't last as Bethune-Cookman racked up a 6-run, 4 hit bottom half of the side. Calesha Shelley tripled down the third base line, clearing the loaded bases for the first three runs of the inning. A double from Aurelia Gamch scored Shelley and a 2-run homer from Banuelos-Smith added the final two runs of the game.

The big inning was all Bethune-Cookman needed as both teams struggled and a pitching duel between Tolbert and Hedderly ensued.

Tolbert picked up her 25^th win of the season after a full 7 innings of work. She allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits with 1 strikeout. Tiffany Davies was tagged with the loss after 2 innings of work. She allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits with 1 walks and no strikeouts. Hedderly pitched 4 innings in relief, allowing no earned runs on 1 hit with 1 strikeout and no walks.