Softball 4/13/2014 4:27:00 PM

McDowell Pitches Lady Tigers To Key Victories

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State sophomore Amanda McDowell recorded the program's first no-hitter in the Division I era (since 2003), and combined for 22 strikeouts to lead SSU to two key wins this weekend.

In the second game of a three three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against North Carolina A&T State, McDowell pitched 5.0 flawless innings, racking up nine strikeouts in the 10-0 win.

McDowell improved to 12-6 overall with a 5.19 ERA. She leads the MEAC in strikeouts with 142 after 128.1 innings pitched.

The Lady Tigers fell in the opening game, but regained composer behind McDowell in the final two games. SSU racked up 10 runs on 10 hits to win game two, after falling in game one of Saturday's twinbill 4-7.

SSU improved to 21-17, and 5-4 in the MEAC on Sunday with a 9-7 victory in the final game. The Lady Aggies fell to 14-19, and 6-3 in the conference.

The tone for a dramatic weekend was set from the beginning.

The important MEAC series marked the first matchup between A&T's new head coach and former SSU assistant coach Kenya Peters, and her former boss, seventh year Savannah State head coach Jose Gonzalez. Peters took the helm for the Lady Aggies in September of 2013.

With the stage set, both teams put up the numbers. The Lady Aggies racked up four home runs, including a key grand slam on Sunday. The Lady Tigers responded with a combined 24 hits, including two big home runs.

In Sunday's rubber match, SSU put up five runs in the first inning behind hits from Alexis Singleton, India Morgan, Amanda Hallman, and Amber Hallman.

The Lady Aggies answered in the top of the second inning. NCAT loaded the bases, and Sabrina Edmonds cleared them with a grand slam to left field, lifting the visitors to a 6-5 lead.

After two scoreless innings, the Lady Tigers went to work in the bottom of the fifth. Morgan singled to reach and was scored on a single from Torrian Wright. Ama. Hallman scored on a wild pitch, and Wright scored on an NCAT error.

SSU senior Megan Uhrman plated the final run for SSU in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to left field, platting Amb. Hallman. The Lady Tigers regained the lead 9-6 into the final two innings.

The Lady Aggies plated a single run in the sixth, but failed to rally as McDowell ended the game with two strikeouts and a forced ground out in the top of the seventh.

McDowell pitched 7.0 innings on Sunday with 13 strikeouts. She allowed seven earned runs on six hits with eight walks.

It was the final home series for SSU, as the Lady Tigers close out the regular season with two MEAC road series.

SSU visits Southern Division nemesis Bethune-Cookman on April 26 and 27, and then finishes the season at South Carolina State on May 3 and 4.

In pregame ceremonies, the Lady Tigers honored seniors Uhrman, Morgan and Rachel White, as well as four-year manager Traci Finch.

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