Big inning lifts Florida A&M past South Carolina State
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Florida A&M softball team used a five-run sixth inning to defeat South Carolina State 6-3 on Saturday afternoon at Lady Bulldog Field.
FAMU (12-33, 5-4 MEAC) led 1-0 after third inning, but SC State (8-23, 2-8 MEAC) tied it up in the bottom of the fourth when Unique Whitehurst scored on Mikala Johnson’s single to left field.
The Lady Rattlers picked up five runs on six hits in sixth to take a 6-1 lead. The Lady Bulldogs rallied in the bottom of the inning, getting runs on a RBI double by Whitehurst and an RBI single by Johnson with just one out. But they could not generate any more offense and had back-to-back outs to end the inning.
Kenya Pereira was the winning pitcher after giving up five hits and three runs (two earned) in seven innings while striking out three. Jareece Sayles fell to 6-13 on the season. She allowed 11 hits and six runs, five earned, in seven innings.
Whitehurst and Johnson both went 2-for-3 and Jasmine Greer was 1-for-2.
The teams take the field again tomorrow to play the doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Saturday. The first pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
For complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com or famuathletics.com
Hornets Keep Rolling with Doubleheader Sweep
DOVER, Del. – The Delaware State softball team (16-21, 10-4 MEAC) continued its winning ways in Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader, combining for 25 runs and 25 hits against the visiting Howard Bison (14-26, 8-9 MEAC) to take both games, 13-6 and 12-7.
With these victories, the Hornets extended their season-long winning streak to nine, in addition to defeating the Bison for the 11th and 12th consecutive times.
Nicole Gazzola, Jordan Stamps, Danielle Velez and Dominique Little all tallied two hits, while Stamps finished with a game-high four RBI. Gazzola, who also stole two bases, scored a game-high three runs and extended her hit streak to a season-high 12 games. In the circle, reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Week Tara Tursellino (11-14), recorded seven strikeouts, despite allowing nine hits and five walks in the winning effort.
In game two, Every Hornet in the starting lineup record a hit, led by Sandy Hawthorne going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Chloe Oro and Stamps, meanwhile, tallied two hits, while Gazzola pushed her hitting streak to 13 with a 1-for-5 effort.
Jessica Shalongo picked up the victory, despite allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs and two walks in four innings of work. Replacing Shalongo was Tursellino, who recorded her first save of the season surrendering two hits, no runs and fanning two HU batters.
Delaware State will aim for the series sweep tomorrow at 12 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.hubison.com
Morgan State takes two from Maryland Eastern Shore
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – On a cold and cloudy day, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women’s Softball Team took on in-state rival Morgan State and dropped both contests to the Lady Bears. Morgan State rallied to win game one, 8-5, and the Lady Hawks’ comeback fell short in game two, 4-3.
With both setbacks, the squad fell to 7-28 (4-10 MEAC) overall while the Lady Bears moved to 6-25 (5-9 MEAC) on the season.
In game one, the Lady Hawks registered five runs on seven hits. Junior Vanessa Gomez and sophomore Alexis Hudson each recorded two hits and two runs scored. Fellow sophomore Ciara Schnyder went 1-of-3 with two RBIs in a losing effort.
For the Lady Bears, Zina Constancia went a perfect 3-of-3 with three RBIs, a homer, and a walk in the victory.
In the night cap, Schnyder and Tesharra Hill each went 3-of-3 from the plate. Also, Hill had a game-high three RBIs in a losing effort.
For Morgan State, Audrianna Alvarez went 3-of-4 with a RBI and run scored. Senior Claudett Tanabe-Smith ended her afternoon, going 2-of-4 with a RBI in the win.
On Sunday, Maryland Eastern Shore looks to avoid a season sweep as they take on Morgan State at Hawks Field. Tomorrow’s contest is Senior Day and the Lady Hawks will honor lone senior Morgan King before the first-pitch. Game-time is set for 1 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Hampton defeats Coppin State in home return
HAMPTON, Va. – In its first home game in nearly a month, the Hampton University softball team beat Coppin State 6-2 on Saturday at a soggy Lady Pirates Softball Stadium.
Due to inclement weather, only one of the scheduled tw5o games were played.
Hampton got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead after senior Kerissa Burruel brought home freshman Allyson Babinsack with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Burruel then stole home in the third to give the Lady Pirates a 2-0 lead.
Babinsack led off the fourth inning with a single to right field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Jada Fields followed with a two-run home run, her third of the season, to give Hampton a 4-0 lead.
Coppin State scored a run in the top of the fifth, and another in the sixth, to cut the lead to 4-2.
But the Lady Pirates responded in the bottom of the frame, first on an RBI double from Burruel – that scored Fields – before Burruel scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, giving Hampton a 6-2 lead.
Fields went 3-for-3 at the plate, and both Fields and Burruel drove in two runs.
Babinsack picked up her 13th win of the season, striking out six and scattering seven hits in seven innings of work.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game set on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.coppinstatesports.com