Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State freshman Michaela Patton and senior Madison Hedderly combined to help the Lady Tigers sweep Norfolk State in a doubleheader at Lady Tiger Softball Field Wednesday afternoon.

In game one, the Spartans of Norfolk State rallied late to take the lead, but SSU escaped with an 8-7 win. In the nightcap, Savannah State put up a plethora of runs in the middle innings for a 12-7 rout of the Spartans.

The Lady Tigers improve to 12-8 overall, while the Spartans fall to 4-8.

Trailing 7-6 into the bottom of the seventh in the opening game, Savannah State was facing a loss with two outs and two runners on. Hedderly was hit with a pitch to reach, advanced to second on a single from Imani Gayle and scored on a fielding error to tie the game.  

Patton then blasted a single to right field scoring Gayle for the walk-off win. Patton led the Lady Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, and a double.

After the doubleheader, Patton has emerged as the teams batting leader. She is batting .468 with seven doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI for the season.

Hedderly picked up her eighth win of the season after a complete game on the mound. She allowed seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits, while striking out nine.

The Lady Tigers opened the scoring in the first inning. Hedderly doubled to left, scoring Patton who walked. Norfolk tied the game up in the third. Alina Moriarty scored on a passed ball.

SSU extended a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third. India Morgan singled to score Amber Hallman who walked. Senior Tiffany Taylor doubled to right field, scoring Morgan and Torrian Wright who reached on an error.

Norfolk answered one run in the fourth behind a single from Heather Dunning that scored Kathy Cortez who reached on an error.

The Spartans trailed 2-4 into the top of the sixth inning. Robyn Mitchell scored on a single from Dunning to get Norfolk within one of SSU's lead. Gipsy Ramirez singled up the middle, scoring Dunning and Liz Riley to lift the Spartans to a 5-4 advantage.

SSU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth behind a double from Patton that scored Antonette Smith who was hit with a pitch. Hallman hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Patton and giving the Lady Tigers a 6-5 lead into the seventh.

However, Norfolk State didn't bow out. Cortez opened the seventh with a double. Riley singled to score Cortez. Later, Shekinah Stewart scored on an error to lift the Spartans to a 7-6 lead. The Lady Tigers escaped the top of the final frame with a double play.

Riley was tagged with the pitching loss after 4.1 innings of relief. She allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, while striking out three.

Norfolk State opened the nightcap with two runs in the top of the first inning. SSU answered in the bottom of the first. Morgan singled to right field, scoring Megan Uhrman and Patton. Hallman scored on the throw after reaching on a single to lift SSU to a 3-2 advantage.

The Spartans pushed out to a 6-3 lead in the top of the third inning with hits from Mitchell, Haley Ward, Dunning and a home run from Chelsea Davis.
The Lady Tigers were trailing 4-7 into the bottom of the fourth after the Spartans added one run in the top of the frame.

Hallman blasted a triple to right center, scoring Patton who was hit with a pitch to open an eight run fourth inning for the Lady Tigers. Later, Hallman was scored on a single from Wright.

Patton led the Lady Tigers in game two, going 2-for-2 with three RBI. Uhrman, Hallman and Gayle all added two hits in the game.

Later, Gayle singled through the left side, scoring Wright who reached on a single, while Rachel White singled to score Hedderly who walked.

Patton closed the door on Norfolk State with a double to left center that cleared the bases, scoring Smith, White and Gayle. Patton was scored on a single from Uhrman that lifted SSU to a 12-7 advantage.

After a scoreless fifth and sixth, two fly outs and a strike out from Norfolk State ended the game in the top of the seventh.

Savannah State racked up 12 hits in the game. Hedderly was tagged with the pitching win after 4.0 innings of relief. Hedderly allowed one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts.

Jamie Schulle was tagged the loss after 3.2 innings of work, allowing 10 earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.

The Lady Tigers return to action with a doubleheader against Alabama A&M at Lady Tiger Softball Field on March 12. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.