SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UPSETS HOWARD 

South Carolina State capitalized on Howard  miscues and a used a sterling pitching performance by Raven Johnson into a 5-0 upset win over the Lady Bison in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida.

The Lady Bulldogs (9-41), who came in as the Number 4 seed in the South Division, broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth.  Tonya Giles reached base on an error.  LaTavia Riley, who went 2-for-3 during the morning, advanced her to second base. Channell Thompson then doubled to score Giles and Riley for a 2-0 lead.

South Carolina State all but put the game away in the top of the fifth. First Denitia Carter reached base on a single. She advanced to second on a hit by Giles.  Riley was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Carter scored from third base following an illegal pitch by Christina McCoy to make it 3-0.  Then Giles and Riley scored on an error by right-fielder Christina Sborz to close out the scoring.

The Lady Bison (24-21) came into the game as the Number 1 seed in the North Division.  The Lady Bulldogs' pitcher, Raven Johnson, proved to be very efficient as she faced 25 batters, scattered three hits and walked one batter against the Howard team which came into the game with a .330 team batting average. The potent Lady Bison lineup that features six batters who hit over 300, failed to threaten.

Johnson (9-31) picked up the win while Carly Martin (9-8) took the loss.

South Carolina State will take on the winner of the North Carolina A&T-Coppin State game at 7 p.m. 

The Lady Bison will face Hampton in the double-elimination bracket at 4:30 p.m.

 

HAMPTON FALLS TO BETHUNE-COOKMAN

 

Ormond Beach, Fla., May 13, 2010-  Hampton lost its opening game in the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, falling 8-0 in six innings to Southern Division No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman Thursday morning, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Bethune-Cookman (29-22) struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when Briana Leverett drove in a run with an RBI single. The Wildcats would add four more runs in the third inning. Allison Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle and Cesley Tafoya drove in two runs with a single down the left field line.

Sabrina Ferguson doubled to center field to bring home the fourth run of the inning, putting Bethune-Cookman up 5-0.

Tafoya added an RBI single in the fourth inning, before Garcia scored on a wild pitch to aid the Wildcats to a 7-0 score.

Garcia's single down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home the final run.

Garcia held the Lady Pirates (21-37) to three hits in six innings of work, striking out five. Tafoya drove in three runs with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, while Garcia also went 2-for-3, driving in a pair of runs.

Sophomore Rebecca Magett, sophomore Travonna Byrd junior Tiffany Brents each had a hit for the Lady Pirates.

Hampton will face off with Northern #1 seed Howard at 4:30 p.m, in the double elimination bracket.  The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats will face the winner of Game 3 (Delaware State vs. Florida A&M) at 7 p.m.

Admission for the 2010 MEAC Softball Championship is $5 for youth, students and seniors.  Discounted ticket packages for all three days can be purchased for $12. Tickets are available at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex beginning on Thursday, May 13.

For more information on MEAC softball, log on to www.MEACsports.com. 

HAMPTON FALLS TO BETHUNE-COOKMAN

Ormond Beach, Fla., May 13, 2010-  Hampton lost its opening game in the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, falling 8-0 in six innings to Southern Division No. 1 seed Bethune-Cookman Thursday morning, at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Bethune-Cookman (29-22) struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when Briana Leverett drove in a run with an RBI single. The Wildcats would add four more runs in the third inning. Allison Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle and Cesley Tafoya drove in two runs with a single down the left field line.

Sabrina Ferguson doubled to center field to bring home the fourth run of the inning, putting Bethune-Cookman up 5-0.

Tafoya added an RBI single in the fourth inning, before Garcia scored on a wild pitch to aid the Wildcats to a 7-0 score.

Garcia's single down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home the final run.

Garcia held the Lady Pirates (21-37) to three hits in six innings of work, striking out five. Tafoya drove in three runs with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, while Garcia also went 2-for-3, driving in a pair of runs.

Sophomore Rebecca Magett, sophomore Travonna Byrd junior Tiffany Brents each had a hit for the Lady Pirates.

Hampton will face off with Northern #1 seed Howard at 4:30 p.m, in the double elimination bracket.  The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats will face the winner of Game 3 (Delaware State vs. Florida A&M) at 7 p.m.

Admission for the 2010 MEAC Softball Championship is $5 for youth, students and seniors.  Discounted ticket packages for all three days can be purchased for $12. Tickets are available at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex beginning on Thursday, May 13.

For more information on MEAC softball, log on to www.MEACsports.com.