SAVANNAH, Ga.- After splitting a non-conference doubleheader on the road against Paine on Wednesday, Savannah State returned home and to conference play on Friday and defeated Benedict in a twibill at the SSU Softball Field 8-4 and 14-0.

The wins give the Lady Tigers a 23-13 overall record and a 13-7 mark in the SIAC.

SSU scored the first two runs in the first game with Ansley Hudson scoring on a groundout by Ambria Guye in the first inning and Carissa Ball scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second.

Benedict sent a runner across home plate in the top of the third but Savannah State answered in the bottom half of the inning when Neveah Ford scored after Madison Starling-Martin reached base because of an error by the second baseman.

The visitors from Columbia, South Carolina added another run in the fourth to cut SSU's lead to 3-2 but Ford and Jayla Alexander scored runs for Savannah State in the fifth to give the Orange & Blue a little breathing room with a three run lead.

After Benedict scored a run in the top of the sixth, Savannah State increased their advantage to 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth as Hudson stole home, Morgan Cole scored on a wild pitch and Jayla Given scored on a single by Shamiya Raines.

Benedict scored once in the seventh but could not get any closer.

Hudson went 4-for-4 at the plate and scored twice while Alexander had three hits, Ford added two hits and scored twice and Starling-Martin had two RBI.

Hudson and Ford added three stolen bases apiece while Alexander stole a pair of bases.

Donnea Allen earned another win on the hill, striking out ten and surrendering six hits and four runs.

Savannah State dominated the second game, pounding out a dozen hits while Aaliyah Martin twirled a two-hitter while recording six strikeouts.

SSU led 5-0 after the first inning and held a 12-0 advantage following two innings of play.

Ford, Alexander, Givens and Raines all drove in runs in the first inning while in the second inning Starling-Martin had a bases clearing double and Raines had a RBI double. Kaitlyn Williams, Alexander and Ariana Battle chipped in RBI singles.

A double to left field by Alexander scored Carissa Ball in the bottom of the third and Battle stole home in the fourth inning for the final run of the day.

Alexander, Starling-Martin, Raines and Battle all hit doubles for the Lady Tigers.

Alexander finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs. Ford added two hits, two RBI and two runs, Starling-Martin drove in three runs, Raines drove in two runs, Guye and Givens scored twice while Battle and Williams had two hits each.

Savannah State will look to complete the three-game sweep on Saturday at the SSU Softball Field at 12 noon.

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