AUGUSTA, Ga.- Savannah State traveled to Augusta for a pair of non-conference games with former SIAC rival Paine on Wednesday afternoon and split a doubleheader at the Lady Lions Softball Park.
In the first game,
Ansley Hudson and
Milani Dunning both drove in two runs while
Donnea Allen recorded 10 strikeouts in a 4-1 SSU victory. Paine won the second game 13-12, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.
The opener was scoreless until the sixth inning when both teams scored.
Shamiya Raines led off the top of the sixth with a double to left field and went to third base after Dunning hit a single to put runners on the corners. Following a steal by Dunning, Hudson hit a single to left field that brought home Raines for a 1-0 lead.
Paine tied the game in the bottom of the sixth but SSU put the game away by scoring three runs in the seventh inning.
Kaitlyn Williams reached base on a single, went to second base on a ground out by
Kennedy Alsbrook and stole third base.
Neveah Ford drew a walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. After Raines struck out, Dunning reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman which allowed Williams and Ford to score.
Hudson had a pair of singles in the win and two RBI. Allen pitched all seven innings and allowed six hits and two walks along with one run.
Savannah State raced out to a 5-1 lead in the second game with two runs in the top of the first before adding three more scores in the following inning.
Hudson drew a walk in the first inning, went to second on a groundout by Williams and advanced to third on a flyout by
Jayla Givens. A single by
Jayla Alexander brought home Hudson and a double by
Phaedra Smith scored Alexander for a 2-0 lead.
Paine scored a run in the bottom of the first while in the second,
Zorianna Ford reached base because of an error, advanced to second and went to third base on a single by Dunning. Ford scored when Hudson lined out and the next batter, Williams, drew a walk and stole second. A flyout by Givens brought home Dunning and a single by Alexander allowed Williams to score for a 5-1 advantage.
Savannah State went ahead 6-1 in the fourth when Givens reached base on an error and scored on a groundout by Smith.
The Lions cut their deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The teams combined for ten runs and ten hits in the fifth inning, getting five runs and five hits apiece.
Neveah Ford and
Ambria Guye hit back-to-back singles and Ford scored on a wild pitch. After Zorinna Ford walked, a groundout by Dunning brought home Guye and a single by Hudson allowed Zorinna Ford to cross home plate. Hudson came home on a groundout by Givens for a 11-3 edge.
The five runs by Paine cut the Lady Tigers lead to 11-8.
Savannah State scored their final run in the sixth when Guye singled to left field, advanced to second on a passed ball, and advanced to third on a groundout by Zorinna Ford. Guye scored when Dunning reached first base on an error by the shortstop.
Down 12-8, the Lions left the bases loaded in the seventh but not before scoring five times off six hits to get the come from behind win.
Madison Starling-Martin was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs, five hits and three walks in her 1.2 innings.
Ariana Battle started the game and went five innings. Battle surrendered a dozen hits, eight runs and one walk while striking out two.
Alexander went 4 for 5 at the plate and had three RBI. Hudson had two RBI and scored twice, Guye had two hits and two runs, and Dunning had two hits and two RBI. Williams and
Zorianna Ford scored twice,
Neveah Ford had two hits while Smith drove in two runs.
Savannah State (21-13) will return to SIAC play on April 10 when they host Benedict in a doubleheader at the SSU Softball Field starting at 2 p.m.
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