Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MIAMI, Fla. – In day two of the Florida International Softball Classic in Miami, Florida, Savannah State escaped a late rally by the University of Hartford with an 8-7 win. In the nightcap Mercer rallied to beat SSU 11-4 in extra innings.  

The Lady Tigers will conclude the tournament on Sunday with a rematch against Hartford. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. SSU is 7-6 overall after two days in the tournament.

Rally Quelled
Savannah State jumped out to a quick lead in the opening game on Saturday, behind a two-run homer from freshman Torrian Wright that scored Katherine Stewart, who reached on a fielder's choice.

Hartford responded in the bottom of the frame with a run, but SSU managed a 2-1 lead into the third inning.

The Lady Tigers put some room between them and the Hawks in the third. SSU took advantage of two-straight walks and a Hartford error that platted Stewart. India Morgan singled up the middle to score Wright. Later, sophomore Amber Hallman stole home.

Newcomer Rachel White blasted a double to left field, scoring Morgan to give the Lady Tigers a 6-1 lead after 2.5 innings.

Hartford added two more runs in the bottom of the third behind three hits. In the top of the fourth, Stewart scored on an error after reaching on a single for a 7-3 SSU advantage.

The Hawks rallied in the bottom of the fourth. Peyton Fisher stole home after reaching on a single. Melani Maxwell doubled to score Amber Andrews. Maxwell was later platted on a single from Jackie Kelly. Hartford cut SSU's lead to 7-6 after four complete.

Tiffany Taylor doubled to score Destiny Webster who was hit with a pitch in the top of the fifth, lifting SSU to an 8-6 advantage. Hartford added one more run in the bottom of the sixth behind a single from Andrews.

Leading 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Madison Hedderly forced three put-outs to end the game for SSU.

Cassie Standard garnered her first win of the season after 3.1 innings of work. Hedderly was tagged with her first save of the season, coming in relief for 3.2 innings.

 
Out Hit
The Mercer Lady Bears rallied in the seventh inning, forcing extra innings against the Lady Tigers in the nightcap. Mercer scored eight runs on seven hits in the top of the eighth to down SSU 11-4.

Mercer opened the game with a double from Ashton Holt that scored Sarah Santana and McKenzie Woody, for a 2-0 Lady Bears lead after one inning.
In the bottom of the second, Wright doubled and was scored on a sacrifice fly from Morgan to cut Mercers lead to 2-1.

A pitching duel through the middle innings between Hedderly and Julia Rice saw both teams combine for six hits and no runs.

A costly miscues from Mercer in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Aaliyah Jones and Ariona Hagood. Hagood was pinch running for Wright who walked, and Jones was pinch running for Hedderly who got on due to a fielding error.

SSU lead Mercer 3-2 into the top of the seventh inning. Mercer's Santana flied out to right field, scoring Molly Garmany and tying the game at three. The Lady Tigers managed a hit in the bottom of the frame, but failed to score as the game was sent to extra innings.

The Lady Tigers struggled to respond to Mercer's eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hedderly doubled, scoring Stewart. Morgan then reached on a single, but a ground out from White ended the game.

Hedderly was tagged with the pitching loss after a complete game in the circle. She allowed 11 runs (4 earned) on 16 hits. Hedderly had five strikeouts and three walks.

Kerri Nidiffer was tagged with her third win of the season after two innings of work. She allowed one unearned run on three hits.