COVINGTON, Ga. – After experiencing success on the first day, the Wildcats could not duplicate it Saturday. Fort Valley State put runs on the scoreboard in first inning of each game, but it couldn't add to it either softball contest in defeats to Jackson State and Grambling State, 9-3 and 6-1, in the second day of the HBCU Invitational.

After seeing Jackson State push across four runs in the top of the first, FVSU (2-5) answered with an Alexia Scott 3-run home run to bring home Chasity Kates and Riley Youngblood, who singled and walked, for a 4-3 score. The Wildcats amounted only one single in four of the other six at bats, while Jackson State added one in the fourth and four more in the sixth for the 9-3 final.

Youngblood brought Leah Leonard home, who singled and stole second, on a ground out for a FVSU lead, 1-0, to start the second contest. Grambling State plated a pair in the home second with the second on an error for a lead it would not give up. The Tigers put up three more scores in the fourth and a single tally in the fifth for the 6-1 final. The Wildcats did threaten further runs in the second and third but they failed to capitalize.

Laila Leverett led the Wildcat hitters with a 3 for 5 day of the combined 13 hits. Scott produced the big hit with the first-frame 3-run homer of game one and added a single late. Jennifer Ramirez finished 2 for 2 with a stolen base in game one. Kates lined two singles and scored in the first contest, while Youngblood doubled in game two. Mariah Williams, Leonard, and Taylor Orr rounded out the hitters with a single apiece.

FVSU wraps up the HBCU Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 18) in a 12 p.m. single game against Alabama State.

-Wildcats-