SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University softball team (18-18, 8-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) takes over first place after winning the series against Florida A&M University (22-24, 10-2 MEAC) with a 3-2 win in the final game of the series Sunday at the Lady Tiger Softball Field.  The win is the Lady Tigers eighth win in the last nine games.
 
Junior left fielder Chasney Jenkins led the team going 3-for-4 with an RBI at the plate, while freshman third baseman Cortni Jones added a solo home run to continue her eight game hitting streak and senior second baseman recorded a hit and a run scored to continue her five game hitting streak.
 
On the mound, junior pitcher Amanda Hallman (10-9) went the distance giving up two unearned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. 
 
The Lady Tigers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning as Jones led off the inning with a solo home run to left field on a 1-0 count. 
 
FAMU tied the game at one in the top of the third inning after an error by the shortstop allowed a Rattler to score and to put runners on second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning to keep the game tied at one.
 
The Lady Tigers took the lead in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead after three innings.  The inning started with a groundout back to the pitcher, but sophomore shortstop Brianna Harris walked and stole second.  Junior right fielder Alexis Singleton walked to put runners on first and second with one out.
 
The next batter flied out to the left fielder, but Jones reached on first base after a wild pitch on strike three to load the bases with two outs.  Hallman walked on four pitches to bring home Harris, but a fly out to left field ended the inning.
 
Savannah State added a run in the fourth inning to increase its lead to 3-1 after Jenkins doubled to deep center field to bring home Antonette Smith, who started the inning with a single up the middle.
 
FAMU started the fifth inning with the first two batters reaching base on an error and a single to right field, but the throw went to third that allowed the runner from first to go to second to put runners on second and third with no outs. 
 
The next three batters each recorded an out as the first out was a short fly out to center field, while the second out was a short fly out to right field and the final out of the inning was a pop up to second base to end the Rattlers threat.
 
The Rattlers scored a run in the sixth inning to cut the Lady Tigers lead to the final margin of a run as an error by the left fielder scored the final run of the game.
 
FAMU recorded the first two outs of the bottom of the sixth inning, but a single by Jenkins extended the inning, but a line out to left field ended the sixth inning.
 
The Rattlers last chance came up just short in the seventh inning.  The inning started with a groundout to the second baseman on a bunt and the next batter Hallman recorded her seventh strikeout of the game for the second out.  The next two batters reached on base with a single to left field and walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. A line out to the shortstop ended the game to give the Lady Tigers the win in the game and the series.  
 
Six Rattlers recorded a hit with Jessica Nathan, Tashay Irvis, Taylor Rosier, Raven Moseley, Denise Anderson and Whitney Farris each recorded a hit, while Moseley and Nathan scored twice.  On the mound, Kenya Pereira (11-12) picked up the loss pitching the first 3.1 innings giving up three earned runs on four hits with five walks, while Tahlia Snider pitched the final 2.2 shutout innings giving up only one hit with two walks. 
 
The Lady Tigers continue their 10-game homestand with a nonconference doubleheader against Jacksonville University (22-24) on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m. at the Lady Tiger Softball Field. 
 
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