ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The No. 1S seed Savannah State University (26-22) continues its quest with a 13-5 win over No. 3S Hampton University (20-28) in five innings at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex Friday.
 
The Lady Tigers scored 10 runs in the first two innings and scored the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after a two error play with two outs. 
 
Senior first baseman Torrian Wright went 1-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks, while junior left fielder Chasney Jenkins went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.  Sophomore center fielder Shelby Eccles went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while junior catcher Tia Bolden went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI. 
 
On the mound, junior pitcher Amanda Hallman (15-11) picked up the win pitching the first three innings giving up three runs, one earned, on two hits with two strikeouts, while sophomore pitcher Ashley Eichenlaub pitched the final two innings giving up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
 
Hampton scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead after a Lady Pirate reached on an error with the bases loaded to score two runs.
 
Savannah State answered with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to capture a 6-2 lead after the first inning.  Jenkins started the inning with a walk and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Brianna Harris for the first out.  Singleton singled to right center to put runners on the corners. 
 
Singleton advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher to allow Jenkins to score from third and Wright walked to put runners on first and second with one out.  Jones walked to load the bases and Hallman walked home a run to score Singleton to tie the game at two and Bolden was hit by a pitch to score Wright for a 3-2 lead.
 
Senior second baseman Antonette Smith singled to left field to bring in Jones for a 4-2 lead. After an infield fly for the second out, Jenkins singled to center field to score Hallman, but an error allowed Bolden to score for a 5-2 lead and move Hallman to third and Jenkins to second.  After a Hampton pitching change, the final batter fouled out to left field.
 
The Lady Tigers added four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 10-2 lead after two innings.  Singleton started the inning reaching on an error and Wright hit her second home run of the tournament to left field on a 1-2 count to give the Lady Tigers an 8-2 lead. 
 
Jones singled to left center, but a strikeout recorded the first out of the inning.  Bolden doubled down the left field line, but a lineout to third base recorded the second out.  Eccles singled up the middle to bring in Jones and Bolden to give the Lady Tigers a 10-2 lead.
 
Eccles advanced to second on a wild pitch and Jenkins walked to force another pitching change.  Harris singled to load the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice to the shortstop ended the inning. 
 
Hampton scored a run in the top of the third inning to cut the Lady Tigers lead to 10-3 after an RBI double down the right field line. 
 
The Lady Pirates scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Lady Tigers lead 10-5 after a two-run double to left field.
 
Savannah State scored the final three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to capture the eight run win.  Singleton started the inning with a hit-by-pitch, but was out at second after Wright's fielder's choice to the shortstop.  The next batter flied out to left field for the second out of the inning. 
 
But Hallman singled through the left side and Bolden was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.  Hampton's second baseman dropped a fly ball to allow two runners to score and an error on a throw to third allowed the final run to score. 
 
Taylor McCoy went 2-for-3, while Danielle Budden went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Lady Pirates.  On the mound, Allie Hotetz (12-16) picked up the loss pitching the first 0.2 innings giving up six runs, four earned, on three hits, while Kial Watts pitched next 1.0 innings giving up four runs, three earned, on four hits and Jada Fields pitched the final 3.0 innings giving up three unearned runs on two hits.
 
The Lady Tigers continue in the consolation bracket with No. 1N Delaware State (29-17) at 3 p.m. Friday.
 
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