Softball 5/8/2014 8:22:00 PM

Softball Closes Out 2014 Season

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Savannah State Lady Tigers concluded the 2014 campaign in the first day of the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in Ormond Beach, Florida.

The Lady Tigers dropped back-to-back games on Thursday to Hampton and Coppin State to close out the season.

SSU ends the 2014 campaign 25-21 overall, the third consecutive winning season for the program.

The Lady Tigers also had the third consecutive winning MEAC season (9-6), and third straight appearance in the MEAC Tournament.

Prior to the beginning of the first game on Thursday, SSU sophomore Torrian Wright was honored for being named the MEAC Player of the Year.

Wright was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year in her debut season last year, and MEAC Preseason Player of the Year prior to the current season.

SSU entered the 2014 MEAC Championship as the Southern Division No. 3 seed and faced off with the Northern Division No. 2 seed Hampton University. The Lady Tigers have never beat Hampton in three years of competition within the MEAC.

Pirates Go Yard
The Lady Tigers opened the scoring in the first inning. Wright singled to plate Megan Uhrman who reached with a single.

Hampton knotted the score up in the bottom of the third with a solo home run from Danielle Budden.

SSU regained the lead in the fourth behind some stellar base running from India Morgan, who stole home on a pick-off attempt from Hampton.

The Lady Pirates tied the game for a second time in the bottom of the fourth behind a solo homer from Kerissa Burruel. In the sixth, Hampton regained the lead with a third home run, this time from Heather Baccus.

SSU tied the game in the top of the seventh behind a single from Amanda Hallman that scored Alexis Singleton. SSU racked up three hits, but were unable to take the lead in the final inning.

In the bottom of the inning, facing extra innings, McKalee Rouse hit a walk-off single to left, plating Taylor Clark for the Lady Pirates 28^th win of the season.

Amanda McDowell pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts, five walks and allowed four earned runs on eight hits for her 8^th loss of the season.

MEAC Pitcher of the Year Jailynn Jackson garnered her 18^th win of the season with 7.0 innings of work. She allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Coppin Edges It Out
With the loss to Hampton, SSU moved into the loser's bracket to face off with Coppin State for a chance to continue on in the tournament.

Coppin, the Northern Division No. 4 seed, fell to Southern Division No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman, 6-0, in game one of the tournament.

After a scoreless first inning, the Lady Tigers struck first in the second. Amber Hallman doubled to left to reach. Ariona Hagood grounded out to the pitcher to score Hallman.

In the top of the fifth inning, Coppin State answered with two runs on two hits, including a double from Heather Josker.

Savannah State stranded the tying run in the bottom of seventh to close out the season.

Amanda Hallman recorded her 13^th loss of the season with 7.0 innings in the circle. She allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Alyssa Barker was tagged with her 10^th pitching win of the season after a complete game. She allowed one unearned run on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

And In The End
The Lady Tigers concluded the season with a team batting average of .287. Destiny Webster (.435), Wright (.346), Ama. Hallman (.326), Singleton (.313), and Amb. Hallman (.301) led SSU from the plate.

Wright led the Lady Tigers and the MEAC in home runs (13), RBI (41); she also led the team in total bases (81) and on-base percentage (.536).

Morgan led the team in runs scored (34), while Ama. Hallman led in hits (44) and stolen base percentage (1.000). Kylie Tierce led in doubles (12), while Singleton led in triples (2).

From the mound, McDowell led with a 14-8 overall record and a 4.97 ERA. She led the MEAC in strikeouts with 174 after 157.2 innings pitched.

Ama. Hallman finished her freshman debut from the circle with an 11-13 record and 6.62 ERA. She had 108 strikeouts in 141.1 innings pitched.

Head Coach Jose Gonzalez is the winningest coach in Savannah State history and concludes his seventh year with a 129-179 record. Gonzalez is 29-16 in the MEAC and 4-6 in the MEAC Tournament.

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