Tuskegee softball explodes in winning pair at SIAC crossover
JASPER, Ala. (goldentigersports.com) — After nine days off from competition, the Tuskegee University softball team erupted for 23 runs in a pair of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games at the SIAC Crossover Thursday afternoon.
Tuskegee (4-20, 4-1 SIAC) used a six-run fifth inning to pull away from Benedict in a tight game, winning 7-2 in the opener. That followed that with a nine-run first inning to set the tone and pull away from Paine 16-0 in the finale.
With the opener tied at 1-all after four innings, the Lady Golden Tigers used a pair of bunts to start the inning and pulled away when Jamaica Williams connected on her third homerun of the season – a three-run homerun to jump on top of Benedict.
Kaylin Finch (1-6) picked up her first collegiate victory in the opener with a complete game effort. She allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, while striking out a career-high seven.
In the finale, the Lady Golden Tigers had everything going as they recorded 13 hits for the game and scored 13 of their 16 runs in the first two innings. Chante Warner led Tuskegee at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in. Haley Plato went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored, while Asha Marshall finished with a pair of runs scored and a pair of runs batted in.
Acey Spence (1-2) picked up the victory in game two, working three innings of hitless relief.
Sharde Thomas led Tuskegee at the plate in the two games, going 4-for-5 with a triple and four runs scored. She also added a run batted in and stolen base in the two victories. Cari Driver finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored and three runs batted in with a double.
Finch picked up a pair of hits in the two games, but her best at-bat came when she drew a walk after 17 pitches in which she fouled off 13 of the pitches. Kenyah Smith and Williams picked up a pair of hits on the day.
Tuskegee returns to action tomorrow in the SIAC Crossover, facing Claflin at 10 am and Albany State at 2 pm.
