SAVANNAH, Ga. – After falling to the University of South Carolina Beaufort in a doubleheader early in the week, Savannah State softball rallied to win two exciting games against Bowie State on Friday.
 
The Lady Tigers nearly beat USCB in the opening of a doubleheader on Feb. 11. Trailing 0-4 into the fifth inning, Savannah State platted two runs on a single from Kameryn Baker—who was named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Player of the Week on Monday.
 
In the top of the sixth, Savannah State moved within a single run of the home team's lead, after catcher Chloe Gallivan doubled to score JaNesa Robinson. The Lady Tigers held USCB to four runs, but were unable to plate anymore runs in the final inning, falling 3-4 to open the doubleheader.
 
It was all Sand Shark softball in game two of the series as USCB racked up 11 runs on nine hits to win the game early in the fifth inning. Jocelyn Lozano, Rickell Holden and Da'Ondalyn Simmons each had a hit in the loss.  
 
Savannah State hosted Bowie State in a doubleheader on Friday, sealing up their first two wins of the young season.
 
In game one, the Lady Tigers and Bulldogs went scoreless through the opening two innings. Bowie State then platted a single run in the third to take the lead. Savannah State answered in the fourth with a single run on a triple from Shayna Byers that scored Baker.
 
Savannah State broke the game open in the fifth inning. Simmons singled to reach and Robinson joined her on the bags with a walk. Later, Baker singled to left field, scoring both to give SSU a 3-1 lead into the sixth. Bowie State platted a single run in the top of the sixth, but still trailed the Lady Tigers.
 
In the top of the seventh, Alisyn Ferrell forced Bowie State into two fly outs and a ground out, sealing up her first pitching win of the season. Ferrell worked a full 7.0 innings for the Lady Tigers, allowing one earned run on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Simmons led at the plate with two hits on the day.
 
Bowie State opened game two with four runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Savannah State responded in the bottom of the third with two runs, but the Bulldogs tacked on another in the top of the fourth for a 5-2 lead.
 
But the Lady Tigers were not done. In the bottom of the fifth, Savannah State went to work at the plate. Wright walked and Smith pushed her to second on a single. Lozano pushed them both into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Baker then singled to score both runners and open it up for the Lady Tigers.
 
Byers then homered to left field, scoring Baker and lifting Savannah State to a 6-5 lead. Bowie State answered with a single run in the sixth to tie the game up. In the bottom of the frame, Savannah State played some smart small ball and took advantage of some costly Bulldog mistakes.
 
Holden walked to reach and advanced on a wild pitch. Smith then reached on an error that scored Holden for the Savannah State go-ahead run. Despite putting the tying run on base, the Bulldogs were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, and the Lady Tigers won their second game of the season.
 
Smith and Baker led the Lady Tigers at the plate. Smith went 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Baker went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Mikayla Smith picked up her first pitching win of the season after 5.0 innings of work. She allowed three earned runs on four hits with five walks and a single strikeout.
 
In relief, Ferrell earned her first save of the season, going 2.0 innings in the circle and allowing no earned runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
 
The Lady Tigers return to action on Feb. 21 and 22 in Sumter, S.C. with the SIAC/CIAA Crossover Tournament. They play Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State on Feb. 21 and the Lincoln University and Claflin on Feb. 22.
 
Savannah State returns home on Feb. 29 and March 1 for a three-game, non-conference series against Alabama A&M. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.