COLUMBIA, SC – The Fort Valley State University Lady Wildcats softball team was swept in a three game conference series over the weekend by the Lady Tigers of Benedict College 21-10, 24-0 and 10-2 on Benedict's campus.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game 1: Benedict 21, Fort Valley State 10
Game 2: Benedict 24, Fort Valley State 0
Game 3: Benedict 10, Fort Valley State 2
Record: Benedict (21-16, 10-5), Fort Valley State (3-21, 3-13)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):
 
FVSU led off the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Marlayzha Crutchfield reached base on a throwing error. Brianna Jackson doubled to left field and moved Crutchfield to third. Keteria Loney singled up the middle to score Crutchfield and advanced Jackson to third. Ashley Blair's fly out to left field scored Jackson. (2-0)   
 
The Lady Tigers struck by in the bottom half with 13 runs, after FVSU gave up 11 hits and three errors. (13-2)
 
The Lady Wildcats bounced back with four runs in the second. Shekiya Tarpkins singled and advanced to second on Aliyah Speight's ground out to shortstop.  Crutchfield reached first base on a throwing error and Tarpkins scored from second. Jackson singled and Crutchfield moved to second. Loney doubled to left center to score Crutchfield and Jackson. Shakerra Geter walked, Ashley Blair walked, Kaylen Johnson walked and Loney scored from third. (13-6)  
 
BC scored three more runs off two hits and an error in the bottom of the second. (16-6)
 
Tenia Johnson led off the third inning with a single through the right side for the Lady Wildcats. Carmen Warren came in to run for Johnson. Warren advanced to second on a wild pitch and Speight reached base on a fielding error, then advanced to second on the throw while Warren scored from second. Crutchfield walked, Jackson reached base on a fielder's choice and Speight was thrown out at home plate. Loney singled to left field with both Jackson and Crutchfield advancing. Geter walked and Crutchfield scored. (15-8)
 
In the bottom of the fourth, BC added five runs on four hits and two errors. (21-8)
In the fifth, Crutchfield led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch and Jackson walked. Then, Crutchfield and Jackson stole second and third with Crutchfield scoring on a throwing error. Geter singled scoring Jackson for the final score. (21-10)
 
Tenia Johnson (3-12) picked up the loss in four innings of service while allowing 21 runs (13 earned), 17 hits and one strikeout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):
 
The Lady Tigers owned this game from start to finish as they scored three runs in the first, 18 in the second, one in the third and two runs in the fourth. (24-0)
 
Brianna Jackson (0-7) suffered the loss while giving up 24 runs (seven earned) and 12 hits in five innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 3):
 
The Lady Wildcats pushed across one run in the first inning. Aliyah Speight and Marlayzha Crutchfield walked and both advanced to second and third on a passed ball, but Speight was thrown out at home plate.  Brianna Jackson reached first base on a passed ball, then she stole second and Crutchfield stole home. (1-0)
 
BC went ahead 2-1 in the bottom half off two hits. They scored another five runs in the second, one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. (10-1)
 
FVSU scored their final run in the third inning as Speight reached second base on an error by the leftfielder and later stole third. Speight scored off Crutchfield's sac fly to leftfield. (10-2)
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Lady Wildcats will host Wesleyan College in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 4 at Wildcat Field. The games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.