FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats completed the start they were looking for in the opening conference weekend. Riley Youngblood's bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth sealed the Fort Valley State victory, 8-3, over Clark Atlanta and finished the three-game softball sweep.
After the Lady Panthers pulled to within a run in the top of the innings with a pair of runs, the Wildcats (7-7/3-0 SIAC East) went back to work. Jennifer Ramirez singled to lead off and two outs later scored on Aundraya Lavaud's single to center. Following back-to-back free passes to Mariah Williams and Leah Leonard to load the bases, Youngblood drove the ball into center field for the game-clinching three-run double. Rachel Clark then followed in the circle for FVSU with by retiring Clark Atlanta in order for the seventh.
Youngblood set her first-year standard with five RBI in the day as she doubled and singled. Williams and Leonard, who had one RBI, had identical days of 2 for 3 with two runs and a walk. Lavaud had an RBI hit in the sixth and scored twice, while Laila Leverett added a run-scoring single. Ashtyn Perkins recorded the final single.
Clark recorded her second strong outing of the weekend with a complete game. She allowed six hits, two earned runs, a walk and struck out two.
FVSU opened the day fast with three runs in the opening frame. Lavaud walked and stole second and moved to third on Williams' bunt single. Leonard drove in Lavaud in the next hitter. Youngblood reached on a CAU miscue and saw both Williams and Leonard race home for the 3-0 lead.
The Lady Panthers made it 3-1 with an unearned run in the visiting third off two Wildcat errors.
With two outs in the home fifth, Youngblood singled to left and had Chasity Kates pinch run. Kates stole second before Leverett knocked her in for a 4-1 margin.
CAU pushed home two scores in the top of the sixth when its first two hitters singled for a 4-3 contest to set the table for Youngblood's stage in the bottom of the same frame.
FVSU will have five days off until it travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for its second SIAC series starting next Saturday (Mar. 2) in a 1 and 3 p.m. doubleheader against defending SIAC champ Edward Waters.
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