COLUMBIA, S.C.- Haley Caroll hit a two-run double while Madison Starling-Martin and Rosa Carnesale combined to limit Benedict to four hits to help Savannah State to a 7-1 win over Benedict in a game played on April 13, 2024 at Benedict's Tiger Field.
 
SSU scored all the runs they would need in the first and second innings to get the win.
 
Caroll's two-run double helped Savannah State to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Carroll scored on an error by the catcher to make the score 3-0 and a RBI single by Phaedra Smith put the Lady Tigers in front 4-0, after one inning of play.
 
In the top of the second, LaTaviona Parke hit a  RBI single and a ground-out by Ziahya Griffin allowed Neveah Ford to score. Zarria Smith's sacrifice fly to left field was deep enough for Parke to score for a 7-0 advantage.
 
Benedict scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Kylie Rhymer, Ford, Parke and Caroll all hit a double for SSU while Rhymer, Ford and Kayla Ragins all stole a base.
 
Madison Starling-Martin pitched pitched four innings and struck out two and Rosa Carnesale pitched the final three innings and also struck out two batters.
 
Savannah State lost their double-header with Benedict on April 12 by scores of 18-11 and 9-8.
 
In the first game, Ziahya Griffin hit a three-run home run in the first inning for the early lead but Benedict answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and three more in the second inning to go ahead 5-3.
 
Griffin and Madison Starling-Martin both hit RBI singles in the third while a walk issued to Zarria Smith brought home a run and a two-run single by Caleigh Powell put SSU back in front 8-5.
 
Benedict scored a run in the bottom of the third to slice SSU's lead to 8-6.
 
In the top of the fourth, Griffin hit a RBI double and Kylie Rhymer added a two-run double to stretch Savannah State's lead to 11-6.
 
The rest of the scoring in the contest would be done by Benedict as they scored once in the fourth, five times in the fifth and six times in the sixth to win the game.
 
Griffin went 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBI and scored three times. Zarria Smith pitched 4.1 innings and recorded six strikeouts while Rosa Carnesale struck out four in 1.2 innings.
 
In the second game, SSU fell behind 3-0 before scoring twice in the fourth inning to cut their deficit to 3-2 when LaTaviona Parke and Haley Caroll both crossed home plate.
 
Kylie Rhymer hit a RBI single in the fifth inning which was followed by a ground-out by Caroll that allowed Rhymer to score. Parke scored on a passed ball and Madison Starling-Martin hit a RBI single that gave Savannah State a 6-3 edge.
 
Benedict (11-25, 7-14 SIAC) would score four times in the bottom of the inning to pull in front 7-6.
 
Phaedra Smith would hit a triple in the sixth inning and score on a ground-out by Neveah Ford to tie the game at 7-7 and SSU took the lead in the seventh when Parke led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Caroll.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Benedict loaded the bases and Tre'sor Eady scored on a wild pitch to tie the game and a RBI single by Jasmine Cadore was the game winner.
 
Parke was 3-for-3 and scored three times for SSU. Rosa Carnesale pitched 6.1 inning and struck out three in the loss.
 
Savannah State (12-24, 8-13 SIAC) will host Edward Waters in a three-game series, beginning on April 19.