Florida State Chops Lady Rattlers, 10-1 In Five Innings

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 21) - No. 23 Florida State snapped Florida A&M's three-game win streak as the Seminoles defeated the Lady Rattlers 10-1 in five innings, Wednesday afternoon at the Lady Rattlers Softball Complex.

FSU (26-5) pounded out game high 15 hits, while FAMU finished with three hits.

The Lady Rattlers had three players to finish with one hit each, while both Maddie O'Brien and Briana Hamilton finished with two hits each to lead the Seminoles.

Lacey Waldrop (12-2) picked the win for FSU as she gave up two hits, one earned runs and striking out four in the four innings on the mound, while Whitney Robinson (6-7) took the loss for the Lady Rattlers as the pitched three and two-third innings, giving up 10 hits, and four earned runs.

FAMU (13-17) scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the first as Jasmin Donaldson scored on an Arianna Stewart double to left field, tying the game at 1-1.

The Seminoles would then score one run in the second, one run in the third, three runs in the fourth and four runs in the top of the fifth for the 10-1 final.

For the complete story, visit www.famuathletics.com

Hornets Pull Out Victory Over Blue Hens; Tie Game Two

NEWARK, Del. - With two outs in the top of the seventh and a 0-0 game, the Delaware State softball seniors came through in the clutch and scored three runs on five hits to lead the Hornets to a 3-0 game one victory over the University of Delaware Wednesday afternoon.  In game two, the two teams played to a 5-5 tie through six innings before the contest was halted due to darkness.

In game one, seniors Leslie Pleasanton, Chelsea Stern and Tawny Reeger all cranked out doubles to left field while Jordan Reid knocked a single to center to score the game's lone three runs off of UD starting pitcher Chenxi Jiao (1-9).

In the bottom of the inning, sophomore Stephanie Sarris walked Blue Hen sophomore Brittney Noons before recording three straight walks to earn her fifth win of the season.

Senior Casey Beighley started the game for the Hornets and went 4.0 innings strong, allowing just two hits and four walks while striking out four.

Sarris threw 3.0 innings and gave up no hits and two walks with one strikeout.

UD (4-23-1) opened the scoring in the nightcap during the bottom of the second inning, capitalizing on two DSU errors.  Noons reached base after sophomore first baseman Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) failed to catch the throw from Reeger at second base.  Noons advanced to second on the error.  Maggie Creciun pinch ran for Noons, stole third and scored when a throw from senior catcher Rachel Carroll to give the Blue Hens a 1-0 lead.

Delaware added a run in the third before the Hornets rallied back in the top of the fourth as Reeger led off with a double off the leftfield fence.  Two outs later, Carroll walked and stole second.  Freshman Kelsey Doherty then delivered a two-run single up the middle to tie things at 2-2.

The Blue Hens took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning, but DSU responded in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on four hits and one UD error.  Martello smashed a single to right field to score Reeger and Reid and eventually came around to score on a single to left by Beighley.

The Hornets carried their 5-3 lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Delaware pushed across a pair of runs to tie the game.

The contest was called before the seventh began due to darkness.

For the complete story, visit www.dsurhornets.com

SC State Sweeps UMES in Softball Doubleheader

Taylor-Anne Harris Hits Game Winning Single in Game Two

Orangeburg, S.C.-The SC State women's softball team defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) 7-3 and 5-4, in a non-conference doubleheader.  With the win the Lady Bulldogs improved to 11-15 overall while the Lady Hawks drop to 0-14 on the season.

SC State controlled Game One from the first pitch.  The Lady Bulldogs put up three runs off four hits in the first inning and four runs off four hits in the second to jump ahead 7-0.  After going scoreless over the first three innings, UMES offense and defense came to life beginning in the top of the fourth.  The Lady Hawks scored three runs over the last four innings (one in the fourth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh) and held SC State scoreless over the three, but could not get any closer, falling in Game One 7-3.

Game Two was a little more competitive.  SC State got on the board first putting up one run in the bottom of the third inning.  UMES scored two runs off to two hits in the top of the fourth to take the 2-1 lead.  The Lady Bulldogs regained the lead putting up two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth for the 3-2 lead.  The Lady Hawks got two runs off three hits in the top of the sixth to take a 4-3 advantage, a lead they would enjoy heading into the bottom of the seventh.  After error by the UMES right fielder allowed the tying run to cross the plate with two outs and a runner on third.  A consequent single by junior Taylor-Anne Harris bought home the game winning run, giving SC State the Game Two victory at 5-4 and the doubleheader sweep.

Junior Arziné Lee led SC State recording two runs, three hits with two RBI's on the day.  Junior transfer Tiffany Harris had two runs with two hits and three RBI's and Taylor-Anne Harris recorded one run with three hits, including the Game Two game winning hit for the Lady Bulldogs.  Sophomore pitcher Vianney Gomez was the winner in both games.

UMES was led by Morgan King with two runs with six hits and three RBI's.  Carmen Gurrola was the losing pitcher in both games.

For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or www.umeshawks.com