Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State softball team split a doubleheader on Sunday to conclude the 2013 Lady Tiger Softball Tournament.

Senior Madison Hedderly led the Lady Tigers to a 10-5 win over Thomas University in the first game. The Lady Tigers fell to the University of South Carolina Beaufort 4-10 in the nightcap.

The two games concluded a four game Sunday. In the opening game on, Morgan State University fell to Thomas University 0-6. The University of South Carolina Beaufort beat Morgan State 10-2 in the second game.  

SSU uses the long ball to beat Thomas
The Lady Tigers went yard four times against Thomas University in the third of four games on Sunday and rallied from a third inning deficient to beat the visitors from Thomasville, Georgia.   

Savannah State took a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Thomas behind two home runs. Leading off for the Lady Tigers, freshman Michaela Patton homered to left field. Katherine Stewart reached on a double, and then was platted by Torrian Wright, who also homered to left field.

Thomas University answered in the top of the second. Natalie Manning doubled to left field, advancing Alexa Fair to third after Fair walked. Summer Rose flied out to left field, scoring Fair. Manning later scored on a wild pitch. Chelsea Charter walked, and later scored on a fielding error to knot the game up at three.

Savannah State went scoreless through the third, while Thomas added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 5-3 lead.

The Lady Tigers answered in the bottom of the fifth. Hedderly blasted a grand slam over the centerfield fence, scoring Amber Hallman, Stewart and Megan Uhrman to give the Lady Tigers a 7-5 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, SSU sealed up the win behind a single from Uhrman that scored Patton. Wright hit her second home run of the day, scoring Uhrman and setting the final score.

Hedderly garnered the pitching win after 4.2 innings of work. The MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year allowed no runs on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Three-run seventh propels USCB over SSU  
USC Beaufort spread out 15 hits over a full seven innings to down the Lady Tigers 10-4 in the final game of the tournament.

After a scoreless first inning, USCB got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Amanda Brown hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Maddie Byrd who walked. Sammi Shaffren platted Taylor Triplett with a single after Triplett reached on a single.

The Lady Sand Sharks added another run in the third to take a 3-0 lead over SSU. Alexandria Simmons was scored on a fielding error after reaching on a single. USCB tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Tigers broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the fourth. Wright reached on a single to left. Running for Wright, Ariona Hagood was advanced to third on a double from Hallman.

Hedderly walked to load the bases. Rachel White was hit with a pitch, scoring Hagood. Atonette Smith was then walked to score Hallman. A single from Imani Gayle scored White and Aaliya Jones, who was pinch running for Hedderly. The four runs cut the Lady Sand Sharks lead to 5-4 into the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth, USCB added two more runs to extend their lead to 7-4. The visitors then absconded with the lead in the seventh, tacking on three more runs behind hits from Whitley Martin, Byrd, and Katie Rietkovich.

Kristy Cook garnered the pitching win after 3.1 innings in the circle. She allowed four earned runs on four hits. Cook struck out seven and walked three.

Hedderly (2-1) was tagged with her first loss of the season after a complete game on the mound. She allowed 10 runs (6 earned) on 15 hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Savannah State is 3-1 to start the season and return to action Wednesday against Mercer University in Macon Georgia.