DELAND, Fla. – The Savannah State University softball team (0-6) fell to the University of Kansas (3-0) 16-1, in five innings, and to University of Akron (1-2) 8-0 in five innings on day two of the Stetson Lead Off Classic Saturday at Patricia Wilson Field.
 
Sophomore second baseman Brianna Harris and junior center fielder Shelby Eccles led SSU with a .250 batting average, while sophomore third baseman Cortni Jones batted .200.
 
Kansas 15, Savannah State 1 (5)
Harris and Eccles each recorded one hit, while senior center fielder Chasney Jenkins recorded two walks and a run scored and sophomore catcher Kelsey Cyrus recorded an RBI.  On the mound, sophomore pitcher Faith Dickerson (0-2) picked up the loss giving up three earned runs in three innings.
 
Savannah State broke the scoreless tie in the top of the first inning by scoring a run and taking a 1-0 lead in the middle of the first.  Jenkins started the game with a four-pitch walk and Harris was hit by the first pitch she saw to put runners on first and second with no outs. 
 
A bunt pop up and a strikeout gave two outs in the inning, but Dennis walked to load the bases.  Cyrus walked with the bases loaded to drive home Jenkins, but a strikeout ended the inning.
 
Kansas scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at one after a throwing error allowed a Jayhawk to score and took the lead in the second inning, 2-1, after a Jayhawk scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Jayhawks scored four runs in the third inning after a solo home run, a two-run double and an RBI double to take a 6-1 lead and scored 10 runs in the fourth inning after an RBI double, a two-run homerun, a three-run home run and a grand slam.
 
The Jayhawks were led by Jessie Roane going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and seven RBIs, while Courtney Taylor went 3-for-3 with two runs scored.  Mandy Roberts (1-0) picked up the win in relief pitching 3.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts.
 
Akron 8, Savannah State 0 (5)
Jones picked up the only hit of the game for the Lady Tigers and senior pitcher Amanda McDowell (0-3) picked up the loss after giving up six runs in 2.2 innings pitched.
 
Akron scored four runs in the top of the first inning after a two-run single through the left side, an RBI double and a throwing error that allowed a Zip to score.
 
The Zips added two runs in the second inning for a 6-0 lead after a throwing error allowed a Zip to score and a sacrifice fly and added the final two runs in the third inning after a Zip stole home and an RBI hit-by-pitch.
 
The Zips were led by Ashley Sims going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Savannah Fruin going 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.  Lexie Handley (1-1) pitched a complete game giving up one hit.
 
The Lady Tigers finish the classic with the host Stetson University at noon Sunday.
 
Kansas 16, Savannah State 1 (Feb 11, 2017 at DeLand, Fla.)
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Savannah State...... 100 0   0 -  1  2  2      (0-5)
Kansas.............. 114 (10)X - 16 12  0      (3-0)
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Pitchers: Savannah State - DICKERSON,Faith; MALCOM,Chelsea(4); MCDOWELL,AMANDA(4) and
CYRUS,Kelsey. Kansas - Williams; Roberts(1); Templin(5) and Roane.
Win-Roberts(1-0)  Loss-DICKERSON,Faith(0-2)  T-1:56  A-156
HR KU - Roane 3 (3); Reid, B (1).
Weather: 70 degrees, sunny
 
Akron 8, Savannah State 0 (Feb 11, 2017 at DeLand, Fla.)
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Akron............... 422 00 -  8  7  1      (1-2)
Savannah State...... 000 00 -  0  1  2      (0-6)
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Pitchers: Akron - HANDLEY and NICHOLAS; CAHILL. Savannah State - MCDOWELL,AMANDA;
DICKERSON,Faith(3) and BOLDEN,Tia; CYRUS,Kelsey.
Win-HANDLEY(1-1)  Loss-MCDOWELL,AMANDA(0-3)  T-1:37  A-137
Weather: 77, Sunny, Winds SSW at 8 mph
 
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