COLUMBIA, S.C.- In a battle of the Tigers, Savannah State lost a doubleheader to Benedict on Saturday at Tiger Field.

Benedict scratched out a 2-1 win in the first game and then nipped SSU 7-5 in the second game.

Savannah State falls to 14-20 overall and 10-10 in the SIAC.

The first game was a pitchers dual with Benedict getting three hits while SSU only had one hit.

In the top of the second inning, Caleigh Powell drew a walk and scored when Jayla Alexander reached base when the center fielder dropped her fly ball for a 1-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth when Benedict scored a run to tie the game.

Savannah State had runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth but could not score but in the bottom of the inning, Benedict scored a run to go ahead 2-1. 

In the top of the seventh, SSU had a runner on third with a chance to tie the game but could not get the runner home.

Ansley Hudson had a single for Savannah State and stole two bases. Nia Fisher pitched six innings and gave up  three hits and one earned run while collecting seven strikeouts.

The Lady Tigers had eight hits in the second game but made five errors.

Madison Starling-Martin led off the top of the second inning with a double to left center field and scored when Alexander hit a double. Alexander stole third and scored on a error by the catcher for a 2-0 lead.

Benedict scored a run in the bottom of the second but SSU went ahead 3-1 in the fourth when Starling-Martin walked and scored on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the fifth, Benedict scored three times and then added three more runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 7-3.

Savannah State had a rally in the seventh where they had three hits and scored twice but ti would not be enough.

Morgan Cole and Carissa Ball both hit singles and a single by Hudson allowed Cole to score a run. Ball came home when Neveah Ford reached base on a fielder's choice.

Starling-Martin scored twice, Cole had two hits and Ford stole two bases. Ariana Battle pitched six innings and surrendered 14 hits and four earned runs while striking out four.

SSU and Benedict will play again on Sunday at 1 p.m. to close out the series.

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