Day one of the 2024 Cricket SIAC Softball Championship Tournament saw surprising finishes, with Lane, Spring Hill, Tuskegee, Edward Waters, Miles and Fort Valley State advancing to semifinal tournament action at South Commons Softball Complex.
GAME 1 | (2E) EDWARD WATERS VS. (3W) LANE
Lane (31-13, 14-8 SIAC), the No. 3 seed in the west division, clinched a commanding 6-1 win against the No. 2 seed in the east division, Edward Waters (36-15, 18-6 SIAC).
It was a slow start to the game with no runs scored in the first two innings, but Lane took the lead in the third. Kaylee Stinnett secured an RBI and Jullianna Saint Hilaire added an additional run to take the 2-0 lead.
The sixth inning, marked by aggressive batting and strategic plays, extended the Dragons' lead by three runs. Edward Waters struggled to answer, with only one unearned run in the fifth inning due to a Lane fielding error.
With the win, the Dragons advanced to Game 7, where they would face the winner of the tournament's second game, the top contender in the east division, Spring Hill (24-19, 22-0 SIAC).
GAME 2 | (1W) SPRING HILL VS. (4E) SAVANNAH STATE
Spring Hill (24-19, 22-0 SIAC), the No. 1 seed in the west division, secured a solid 5-0 victory against Savannah State (14-28, 9-15), the No. 4 seed in the east.
Savannah State struggled to find its rhythm in the early innings, leaving runners stranded and failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, so a determined Spring Hill broke the deadlock in the second inning, taking advantage of the Tigers' fielding errors to score three runs.
Notable performances included a key single by Oscha Carter and a strategic bunt from Macy Holt that contributed to the runs.
Despite several attempts by Savannah State to rally, Spring Hill's defensive efforts kept them at bay. Senior pitcher Emily Phillips maintained control throughout play, keeping the Tigers’ hitters from advancing in the final innings.
Spring Hill would extend its lead with another unearned run in the sixth inning, advancing to the tournament's sixth game, where the Badgers would face the No. 3 seed in the west division, Lane (31-13, 14-8 SIAC).
GAME 3 | (2W) TUSKEGEE VS. (3E) ALBANY STATE
Tuskegee (29-20, 17-5 SIAC), the No. 2 seed in the west division, clinched a decisive 13-2 victory against the No. 3 seed in the east division, Albany State (29-19, 16-7 SIAC), Monday.
Tuskegee would dominate from the start, leveraging a series of strategic hits and solid defensive plays.
Graduate utility player Jada Chadwick highlighted the second inning by driving in two runs with a critical 2 RBI single to center field. Her play, part of a four-run inning, set the tone for the remainder of the game.
The Golden Rams struggled to mount a comeback, scoring only in the second and fifth innings. Keyatta Ayer contributed an RBI groundout in the fifth, but it wasn't enough to close the widening gap.
Tuskegee continued to extend its lead in subsequent innings, with Victoria Harrison and Jessica Morales adding key RBIs. The Golden Tigers continued play, capitalizing on Albany State's errors and scoring multiple unearned runs.
Defensively, Tuskegee was nearly flawless, conceding only two runs and displaying exceptional fielding that kept Albany State at length.
The Golden Tigers would advance to face Miles (12-28, 8-14), the No. 4 seed in the east.
GAME 4 | (1E) FORT VALLEY STATE VS. (4W) MILES
Miles (12-28, 8-14), the No. 4 seed in the east, claimed a 6-2 victory in an afternoon contest, rivaling Fort Valley State (31-16, 20-4 SIAC), the No. 1 contender in the east division.
In the first inning, Fort Valley State's Riley Youngblood recorded an RBI, giving the team an early lead, but the fourth inning would turn the tide as Miles' Shalayiah Waid and Genia Hall orchestrated a steal allowing Hall to score, tying the game.
A Chasity Kates RBI single would give the Wildcats a short-lived lead until the seventh inning, where Miles junior, Desalynn Nesbitt would execute a three-run double, significantly widening the gap to a final score of 6-2. Waid contributed with a key single that brought in another run.
With the win, the Golden Bears would advance to the tournament's eighth contest against Tuskegee (29-20, 17-5 SIAC), the No. 2 seed in the west division.
GAME 5 | (2E) EDWARD WATERS VS. (4E) SAVANNAH STATE
Edward Waters (36-15, 18-6 SIAC) clinched a definitive 8-0 shutout victory over the No. 4 seed in the east, Savannah State (14-28, 9-15) Monday.
Edward Waters set the tone early in the first inning with a Jade Mention RBI double that drove in Laura Scott for the first run. The inning culminated in a five-run effort featuring key hits from Jazmine and Caitlynne Lamug, who collectively knocked in three runs. An unearned run would extend the lead.
Savannah State struggled to capitalize on their few opportunities, managing no runs and minimal hits, while Edward Waters' defense was apparent as they consistently denied Savannah State any advancement, leaving them scoreless through all five innings.
Edward Waters' Brooke Rice and Kylah Gardner demonstrated their prowess on the bases, contributing significantly with timely steals and consistent pressure on Savannah State's defense.
The game would conclude after the fifth inning, advancing Edward Waters to semifinal play, set to rival the No. 4 seed in the east, Miles College (12-28, 8-14).
GAME 6 | (3W) LANE VS. (1W) SPRING HILL
Lane (31-13, 14-8 SIAC), the No. 3 seed in the west division, secured a narrow 4-2 victory over Spring Hill (24-19, 22-0 SIAC), the No. 1 seed in the west division Monday.
The contest remained scoreless until its fifth inning when the Badgers' Oscha Carter doubled to left field, driving in Emily Phillips for the first run. Redshirt junior Bailey Cox singled to left shortly after, bringing Carter home and doubling the Badgers' lead.
A same-inning response from Lane saw a Joslyn Soinila single through the right side, resulting in two unearned runs, tying the game at 2-2.
Lane capitalized on more defensive errors in the sixth inning. A Soinila clutch hit allowed Takya Garrett and Jayden McCarty to score, pushing the Dragons' lead to 4-2.
Despite Spring Hill's attempt to rally in the seventh inning, Lane's defense held firm, securing the win with no further runs allowed.
The Dragons advance to semifinal play Tuesday, where they will face Tuskegee (29-20, 17-5 SIAC), the No. 2 seed in the west division.
GAME 7 | (3E) ALBANY STATE VS. (1E) FORT VALLEY STATE
Fort Valley State (31-16, 20-4 SIAC), the top-seeded contender in the east division, clinched a 10-6 victory against the No. 3 seed in the east division, Albany State (29-19, 16-7 SIAC), in a closely contested tournament matchup Monday.
Fort Valley State's offense came alive in the third inning, putting up four runs to take the lead. Critical hits by Jennifer Ramirez and Ashtyn Perkins fueled the team's aggressive performance, driving in two runs with a single up the middle.
Defensive errors by Albany State contributed to several unearned runs, tipping the scale in Fort Valley State's favor.
The Golden Rams attempted a comeback in the sixth inning. Trista Murphy would single to the pitcher to bring home a run, narrowing the gap to 9-6. Despite efforts, Albany State couldn't overcome the early deficit, and Fort Valley State maintained its lead to secure the win.
The Golden Rams’ five errors in the game proved costly, affecting their momentum, and scoring opportunities. Fort Valley State capitalized on these mistakes, enhancing its lead, and controlling the pace of the game.
With the win, the Wildcats advance to semifinal play, where they will face the No. 1 seed in the west, Spring Hill (24-19, 22-0 SIAC).
GAME 8 | (2W) TUSKEGEE VS. (4W) MILES
Tuskegee (29-20, 17-5 SIAC), the No. 2 seed in the west division, secured a 13-4 victory over the No. 4 seed in the east, Miles (12-28, 8-14), Monday.
The contest opened strongly for Tuskegee, with two runs scored on hits by Jessica Morales and Alexis Thompson. Miles responded in their half with two runs, tying the game.
Tuskegee established a 5-2 lead in the third inning following strategic hits and three runs.
The Golden Tigers continued their momentum into the sixth inning, widening the gap to 11-4 with a series of hits that drove in multiple runs.
Tuskegee then confidently closed the match in the seventh inning, adding two more runs to seal the deal.
The victory advances the Golden Tigers to semifinal play, where they will face the No. 3 seed in the west division, Lane (31-13, 14-8 SIAC), Tuesday.
The 2024 Cricket SIAC Softball Championship Tournament continues through Wednesday, May 1. Visit the
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About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.