AUGUSTA, Ga.- Savannah State split a non-conference softball game with Paine on March 7, 2024 at The Academy of Richmond County. SSU won the opener 5-3 but lost the second game 9-1.
 
In the first game, Rayne Ford hit a RBI double while LaTaviona Parke, Madison Starling-Martin and Caleigh Powell all hit run scoring singles for a 4-0 lead.
 
Haley Carol hit a RBI single in the second inning to increase SSU's advantage to 5-0.
 
Paine scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and added two more in the fifth but could not get any closer.
 
Savannah State (6-12, 2-3 SIAC) scored five runs on 12 hits but stranded 16 runners on base while the Lions had three runs on four hits but left a dozen runners on base.
 
Both teams made two errors apiece.
 
Zarria Smith was the winning pitcher, holding Paine to four hits while striking out six.
 
Milani Dunning and Carol both went 3-for-4 at the plate for SSU with Dunning scoring twice and Carol scoring a run and driving in a run.
 
Ana Cobas had two hits for Paine and Montana Cagle was the losing pitcher.
 
In the second game, Paine led 2-0 after the first three innings. Savannah State made the score 2-1 in the top of the fourth after Parke hit a solo home run over the center field fence.
 
The Lions blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth with seven runs on six hits to go ahead 9-1.
 
Paine pitcher Kayla Carter held SSU to just two hits in the game.Leticia Omori and Katherine Sugilio Peralta both hit home runs for the Lions (7-9).
 
Rosa Carnesale lasted just 3.2 innings on the mound for Savannah State and was tagged with the loss.
 
SSU will travel to Hoover, Alabama to play six games in the SIAC Crossover on March 12-14.