Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State softball team opened the 2013 season with two mercy rule wins over Morgan State at the Lady Tiger Softball Field in a doubleheader Saturday that opened the 2013 Lady Tiger Softball Tournament.

The Lady Tigers blanked Morgan State in game one, 8-0, ending the game early in the bottom of the fifth inning. In game two, SSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early again, topping Morgan State 10-2.

GAME ONE
In the opening game, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and Savannah State senior, Madison Hedderly led her team to victory with five innings of stellar pitching.  Hedderly garnered the win in the circle, allowing only two hits and striking out nine.

Savannah State added one run in each of the first three innings. Katherine Stewart opened the scoring for the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the first with an RBI double. In the bottom of the second, India Morgan doubled to center field, scoring Destiny Webster who reached on a bunt single.

 In the third, newcomer Rachel White doubled to left scoring Webster, who walked, to give the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead.

Into the fourth inning, SSU absconded with the lead behind another double from Stewart that scored Michaela Patton. Torrian Wright homered on the next at bat, scoring Patton to give the Lady Tigers a 6-0 edge. Stewart led the Lady Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles.

Savannah State closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth. Imani Gayle singled, scoring Antonette Smith who reached on a single. Back from injury, senior Tiffany Taylor ended the game, blasting a single through the left side, scoring White.

Morgan State's Shanice Crowder was tagged with the pitching loss after two innings of work. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits with one walk and no strikeouts.  

GAME TWO
Freshman Amanda McDowell took the mound for the Lady Tigers in the second game, pitching SSU to a win in her first start. McDowell closed out five innings of work with one earned run on one hit, two walks and eight strikeouts.

Morgan State opened the scoring in the top of the first. Tiffany Rubin blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Lady Bears their only lead of the day, 1-0.

Savannah State answered in the bottom of the frame with some small ball offense. Leading off for the Lady Tigers, Morgan and Megan Uhrman both reached on bunts. Stewart brought them both home with her third double of the day to the right-center fence.

Stewart was later scored on a sacrifice fly from McDowell, to give SSU a 3-1 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, McDowell went to work in the top of the third, sitting the first batters down with strikeouts, and forcing a ground out to move to the bottom frame.

The Lady Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the third. White doubled through the left side, to score McDowell who singled and Taylor who doubled. White later scored on a fielding error.

Uhrman doubled to left scoring Morgan, who reached on a fielding error, for a 7-1 SSU lead.

In the top of the fourth, the Rubin walked, and later scored on a fielding error for a 7-2 score. The Lady Tigers went scoreless through the fourth, while Morgan State failed to plate any runners in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, leading 7-2, SSU closed out the game. Gayle doubled to reach, then stole third and home for an 8-2 SSU advantage. Patton singled to left field and newcomer Aaliya Jones, pinch running for Hedderly, scored followed by Stewart who ended the game with the Lady Tigers 10^th run.

Morgan State plays Thomas University at 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 10. The Lady Bears then take on the University of South Carolina Beaufort at 12 p.m.

Savannah State concludes the Lady Tiger Softball Tournament Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Thomas University and a 4 p.m. game against the University of South Carolina Beaufort.