Box Score
IRONDALE, Ala. – The Savannah State softball team defeated Alabama A&M 4-3 to close out the 6
th annual HBCU Softball Classic Tiny Laster Tournament in Irondale, Alabama on Sunday.
With the win, the Lady Tigers finished the tournament at the top with a 3-1 record, claiming the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) / Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament title. The team was awarded a trophy in ceremonies on Sunday.
The Lady Tigers only loss came at the hands of Mississippi Valley State on Friday, as the Devilettes edged out a 5-4 win. SSU defeated Tennessee State 8-4 and Grambling State 11-3 on Saturday.
SSU escaped a late rally from Alabama A&M on Sunday, as senior
Madison Hedderly propelled the Lady Tigers to the close victory with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Hedderly allowed three earned runs on five hits, walking four in seven innings of work.
From the plate, freshman
Michaela Patton and junior
Megan Uhrman led the Lady Tigers with two hits apiece.
After a scoreless first inning, SSU broke the drought in the bottom of the second. Hedderly blasted a home run to left, scoring
Torrian Wright who reached on an error. Uhrman plated
Tiffany Taylor on a single to left after Taylor reached on a fielder's choice, lifting SSU to a 3-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Patton was scored when Wright walked with loaded bases. Patton reached on a single. The Lady Tigers held the 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Alabama A&M's Nicole Norton homered to right field, scoring Meaghan Gray and Jasmin Riley who both reached on a single, cutting the Lady Tigers lead to 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Tigers escaped with the win by forcing a line out, fly out and ground out against the first three Alabama A&M batters. Savannah State outhit the Lady Bulldogs 8-5.
SSU returns to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Norfolk State in Savannah. The match opens an eight-game home stretch for the Lady Tigers. First pitch against the Spartans is set for 3 p.m.
