SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University softball team (22-21) split the doubleheader against Georgia Southern University (28-22) with a 1-0 loss in game one and a 9-4 win in game two Wednesday at the Lady Tiger Softball Field.
 
The first game was a pitching duel as both pitchers went the distance with nine strikeouts each.  Junior pitcher Amanda Hallman (12-10) picked up the loss giving up one run on five hits with four walks, while Dixie Raley (21-10) of GS picked up the win without allowing a run on three hits with three walks.
 
Junior center fielder Alexis Singleton led SSU going 2-for-3, while sophomore shortstop Brianna Harris recorded the only other hit.
 
The Lady Eagles had the bases loaded after a single, walk and a catcher's interference with one out, but a strikeout swinging and a pickoff at third ended the GS threat and to keep the game scoreless in the middle of the first.
 
The Lady Tigers left two runners in the bottom half of the inning after a single by Singleton and a senior first baseman Torrian Wright walk with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning with the game scoreless.
 
GS scored the only run of the game in the second inning after a single up the middle to score a runner from second to lead 1-0. 
 
The Lady Tigers had an opportunity to score a run in the bottom of the fourth inning after back-to-back walks by Wright and freshman third baseman Cortni Jones with one out, but a strikeout looking and a pop up to second base ended the inning with GS lead 1-0.
 
The last opportunity for the Lady Tigers was in the bottom of the sixth inning as Singleton singled and Wright was hit by a pitch with one out.  But a pop up to shortstop and a strikeout swinging ended the inning.
 
Lydia Witkowski and India Davis each recorded two hits, while A.J. Hamilton scored the only run and Witkowski recorded the only RBI.
 
Savannah State 9, Georgia Southern 4
The Lady Tigers scored nine runs on two hits as senior second baseman Antonette Smith and sophomore center fielder Shelby Eccles recorded the only two hits for the Lady Tigers.  On the mound, freshman pitcher Faith Dickerson pitched the first 2.1 innings giving up three runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts, while Kasie Johnson (5-2) picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 4.2 innings giving up one run on six hits.
 
The Lady Eagles broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning after an RBI hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, but a pop up to the shortstop ended the inning as GS took a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-1 lead after two innings.  Wright started the inning with a walk, followed by Jones' hit-by-pitch.  Hallman sacrifice the runners to second and third with one out and freshman catcher Kelsey Cyrus walked to load the bases.   
 
Smith doubled to deep center field to drive home Wright and Jones for a 2-1 lead and put runners on second and third with one out.  Eccles followed up with a double to drive home Cyrus for a 3-1 lead and junior left fielder Chasney Jenkins walked to load the bases.
 
After a fly out for the second out, Singleton walked to bring in Smith for a 4-1 lead and Eccles scored on a wild pitch to take a 5-1 lead, but a fielder's choice to shortstop to get the runner out at second ended the inning.
 
The Lady Eagles scored two runs in the top half of the next inning to cut the Lady Tigers lead to 5-3 after a two-run home run to center field on the first pitch. 
 
GS pulled within a run in the top of the sixth inning, 5-4, after an RBI single down the right field line and to put runners on the corners with two outs, but a groundout to third ended the inning.
 
The Lady Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take home the five-run win.  Cyrus started the inning with a walk, while Smith reached on base after a fielder's choice to second.  Back-to-back errors by the second baseman allowed Smith to score for a 6-4 lead.  Jenkins stole second to put runners on second and third with one out as Harris reached on a fielder's choice as Eccles was safe at home for a 7-4 lead and Jenkins scored on a throwing error to third base for an 8-4 lead.
 
Singleton drove home Harris after a groundout to first base, but a pop up to the shortstop ended the inning.
 
The Lady Eagles went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.
 
Morgan Robinson and Hannah Farrell each recorded two hits, while Hamilton recorded two RBIs.  On the mound, Heather Felt (1-2) picked up the loss pitching the first 1.1 innings giving up five runs on two hits with three walks and Kierra Camp pitched the final 4.2 innings giving up four unearned runs without allowing a hit with three walks.
 
The Lady Tigers finish the regular season this weekend against South Carolina State University (5-24, 2-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) in Orangeburg, S.C., with a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon and a solo game Sunday at noon.
 
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