Tuskegee softball postpones game for A & M’s Danny Johnson funeral
TUSKEGEE, Ala (goldentigersports.com) — The Tuskegee University softball team returns to action Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action against NCAA Division I-member Alabama A&M University. The game was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday but was moved a day following the memorial service for a fallen Alabama A&M University student-athlete.
First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 pm on the campus of Tuskegee University.
Tuskegee (9-21, 8-1 SIAC) comes into the game having won six of their last seven games, and having won eight consecutive conference games. During the streak, Tuskegee has outscored their opponents 81-21 which include three shutouts in conference play.
After a tough non-conference slate to open the season, the Lady Golden Tigers won their first non-conference game over West Georgia 3-2 last week. The team has not played since last Wednesday due to the cancellation of the conference series with Kentucky State over the weekend due to weather.
Tuskegee is led by freshman Sharde Thomas at the plate, hitting .462 with five extra base hits and a team-leading eight stolen bases (nine attempts). Fellow freshman Kaylin Finch is hitting .310 with five extra base hits, including a pair of homeruns. She is also second on the team in RBI with 15, while junior Jamaica Williams leads the team in homeruns with a three and 16 runs batted in. Senior Chante Warner is third on the team in RBI with 12, while hitting .266 this season.
On the mound, senior Karisa Foye (1-4) leads the team with a 3.91 earned run average with 10 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Finch (4-6) leads the team in wins and has appeared in 11 games with 10 starts. She has thrown 59 innings, allowing 41 earned runs with 32 strikeouts including a perfect game this season.
Meanwhile, Alabama A&M (6-19, 5-1 SWAC) is led by Tiana Sanders hitting .387 with six homeruns and 18 runs batted in. Imani Largin is second on the team in hitting at .305 with three extra base hits. On the mound, Caitlyn Hayden (3-6) leads the team in appearances and innings pitched (52.1) with 32 strikeouts.
The two teams have met seven times since the 2013 season, with Alabama A&M holding a slim 4-3 advantage in those games. The two teams played twice last year, splitting a doubleheader after meeting three times in 2014 with Tuskegee winning two of those games. The Lady Bulldogs swept the doubleheader against Tuskegee in 2013.
In the win last season, Tuskegee used the power of Warner and Cassandra Denson to put up eight runs and rode the arm of Acey Spence to victory – winning the opening game of the doubleheader 6-3.
