DELAND, Fla. – The Savannah State University softball team (0-4) fell to the University of Kansas (2-0) 16-2, in five innings, and to host Stetson University (2-0) 7-1 Friday at the Stetson Lead Off Classic at Patricia Wilson Field.
 
Sophomore third baseman Cortni Jones led SSU with a .750 (3-for-4) batting average with a home run, a run scored and two RBIs, while freshman first baseman Ashleigh Dennis went 2-for-5 (.400 batting average). 
 
Kansas 16, Savannah State 2 (5)
Senior left fielder Chasney Jenkins, right fielder Alexis Singleton, Jones and freshman designated player Alysha Bolling each recorded a hit, while Bolling scored once and Jones hit a solo home run.  Junior pitcher Chelsea Malcolm (0-1) picked up the loss.
 
Kansas scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 10-0 lead after the first after a three-run home run, a two-run double, a two-run single, a two-run home to right center and an error that allowed a Jayhawk to score.
 
The Jayhawks added four more runs in the bottom of the second inning after an RBI single, a two-run home run and a muffed throw allowed a Jayhawk to score to take a 14-0 lead after two innings.
 
Savannah State got on the board after Bolling's run scored on a wild pitch to cut the KU lead to 14-1, but Kansas scored a run in the bottom half of the inning a solo home run to left center to increase its lead to 15-1.
 
Jones hit a solo home run in the fourth inning off the scoreboard to cut the KU lead to 15-2, but the Jayhawks scored the final run in the bottom half of the inning after an RBI groundout.
 
Kansas was led by Taylor Dodson with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with two home runs, three runs scored and three RBIs, while Lily Behrmann, Jessie Roane, Erin McGinley each added two hits and two runs scored each.  Sarah Miller (1-0) picked up the win giving up a run in three innings. 
 
Stetson 7, Savannah State 1
Jones led the Lady Tigers going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while Dennis, junior pitcher Chelsea Malcolm and junior center fielder Shelby Eccles each added a hit and Harris scored once.  Senior pitcher Amanda McDowell (0-2) picked up the loss after pitching 5.1 innings giving up seven runs with four strikeouts.
 
Stetson broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning with a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to take a 2-0 lead after two innings.  The Hatters extended its lead with a run in the top of the third inning with a solo homerun to right field to start the inning to take a 3-0 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning after Jones' RBI single to center field to drive home Harris to put runners on first and second with one out, but a groundout to the pitcher ended the inning and cut SU's lead to 3-1.
 
Stetson added a run in the fourth inning after a fielder's choice allowed a Hatter to score to make it 4-1.  Stetson had the bases loaded with one out, but a fielder's choice at home and a pop up to the shortstop ended the threat. 
 
The Hatters scored the final three runs of the game in the sixth inning after an RBI single and back-to-back RBI doubles.
 
The Hatters were led by Ashly Smith with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Tara Walding added two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Chelsea Hostetler pitched a complete game giving up one run on five hits.
 
The Lady Tigers continue the Stetson Lead Off Classic in DeLand, Fla., with two games Saturday starting with the University of Kansas at 11 a.m. and the University of Akron at 1:30 p.m. and a single game Sunday with Stetson at noon.
 
Kansas 16, Savannah State 2 (Feb 10, 2017 at DeLand, Fla.)
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Savannah State...... 0   01 10 -  2  5  2      (0-3)
Kansas.............. (10)41 1X - 16 13  0      (2-0)
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Pitchers: Savannah State - MALCOM,Chelsea; DICKERSON,Faith(1); MCDOWELL,AMANDA(3) and
CYRUS,Kelsey. Kansas - Miller; Roberts(4) and Roane.
Win-Miller(1-0)  Loss-MALCOM,Chelsea(0-1)  T-1:40  A-75
HR SSU - JONES,Cortni (1).
HR KU - Behrmann (1); Dodson 2 (3); Ridling (1).
Weather: 68 degrees, sunny
 
Stetson 7, Savannah State 1 (Feb 10, 2017 at DeLand, Fla.)
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Stetson............. 021 103 0 -  7 10  1      (2-0)
Savannah State...... 001 000 0 -  1  5  2      (0-2)
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Pitchers: Stetson - HOSTETLER and CREWS. Savannah State - MCDOWELL,AMANDA; MALCOM,Chelsea(6)
and CYRUS,Kelsey.
Win-HOSTETLER(1-0)  Loss-MCDOWELL,AMANDA(0-1)  T-2:24  A-205
HR STET - SMITH (1).
Weather: 63 degress, clear
 
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