Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MIAMI, Fla. – The Lady Tigers came away 1-1 after the first day of the Florida International Softball Classic in Miami, Florida. Savannah State beat Mercer University 6-2 in the opening game Friday afternoon. SSU fell to Florida International University, 3-8, in the Lady Tigers' second game.

SSU is 6-5 overall after Friday's games. They are set to play Hartford University Saturday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Based on a forthcoming tournament bracket, the Lady Tigers will either play Mercer, FIU or Hartford again Saturday afternoon.  They conclude the tournament Sunday with a game to be determined.

Big Third
In the opening game on Friday, Savannah State scored four runs on four hits in the third inning, en route to a 6-2 victory over the Mercer University Lady Bears.

SSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Leading off for the Lady Tigers, freshman Michaela Patton (2-for-4) doubled to reach. Later, sophomore Amber Hallman (1-for-3) singled to score Patton.

After a scoreless second inning, SSU opened the bottom of the third with a single from Katherine Stewart (1-for-3). Torrian Wright (2-for-3) scored Stewart with a home run to left field.

Freshman Antonette Smith (2-for-3) scored Madison Hedderly (1-for-3) and India Morgan (2-for-2) on a single up the middle, after Hedderly reached on a double and Morgan was hit with a pitch. At the close of the third, SSU led Mercer 5-0.

In the top of the fourth, Mercer's Sarah Santana (2-for-2) doubled to center, scoring Kaytlin Haney (2-for-4) who reached on a single. Ashton Holt (1-for-3) singled to score Santana later, cutting the Lady Tigers lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, Patton scored the final run of the game on an error after reaching on a double.

Hedderly was tagged with the pitching win after a complete game in the circle. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits with no strikeouts or walks.

Kerri Nidiffer suffered the pitching loss for Mercer after 2.2 innings of work. She allowed five earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Pitching Prowl
In the Lady Tigers second game of the day, FIU's Corinne Jenkins led the Lady Panthers to victory after a complete game in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with 10 strikeouts. SSU committed five costly errors in the loss.

The Lady Panthers struck first in the opening inning. Nicole Rascon (2-for-3) scored on a fielding error, and Jessy Alfonso (0-for-4) stole home after reaching on an error to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

SSU responded in the top of the second. Wright (0-for-2) walked, and Hallman (2-for-3) platted her on a home run to tie the game at two.

FIU broke the tie in the bottom of the frame, behind two hits and an SSU error. Into the third inning the Lady Panthers led 5-2.

The Lady Tigers went scoreless through the middle innings, as FIU racked up three more runs, one in the fourth and two in the fifth, to take an 8-2 lead into the sixth.

In the sixth, Stewart (1-for-3) doubled to reach, and was scored on a single from Hallman for the final run of the game.

Freshman Amanda McDowell was tagged with the pitching loss for the Lady Tigers. McDowell pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits, with four walks. Hedderly came in relief in the third inning. She pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.

Hedderly is 5-2 overall this year with a 3.86 ERA and 24 strikeouts. McDowell is 1-3 with a 9.91 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

At the plate, Wright leads the Lady Tigers with 13 hits, (.433 avg), four home runs and 10 RBI. She is slugging .900 after 11 games.