BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Wildcats went back to the softball diamond after a week away Tuesday. Fort Valley State stole home and defeated Miles College, 2-1, before defending league runner-up Spring Hill College's big seventh-inning made a score look like a different game, 17-3, on Day 1 of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover event.

Tied at a run apiece with runners on the corners in the top of the sixth inning, Ashtyn Perkins stole home and touched the plate before Aundraya Lavaud was tagged out trying to swipe second for a 2-1 lead. Taylor Watson allowed only a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth and a walk in the seventh for the pitching victory.

Spring Hill College went out to a 5-0 lead in the first three frames and allowed only single FVSU (9-9/5-2 SIAC East) runs in the fourth through six innings. The Badgers made the final score margin far wider with eight tallies in the seventh.

Of the 11 Wildcat hits, Riley Youngblood and Alexia Scott each accounted for three of them. Scott singled in the first game and went 2 for 3 with two runs and a double late. Youngblood had all hers in the second contest with a double and two RBI. Jennifer Ramirez singled in each game with three stolen bases and a walk. Mariah Williams singled, scored and swiped two Game 1 bases and Chasity Kates added a single with a stolen base in the same game. Riley Jenkins completed the hitting with a single.

Watson went the distance in game one with one earned run, seven hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts over the seven innings of work.

Game 1

After a single Lady Bears run in the home first, the Wildcats tied it up two innings later. After one out, Williams laid down a bunt single and stolen both second and third bases. Following a fielder's choice, Youngblood ground out to second base to score Williams for the 1-1 tie.

In the top of the sixth after two outs, Perkins drew a walk and moved to third base on a Miles miscue on Jenkins grounder to third. Lavaud pinch ran for Jenkins and the two runners on the corner executed the double steal for what would be the winning run and 2-1 lead.

Game 2

Trailing 5-0 in the home fourth, Scott led off with a single, moved to second on Ramirez's sac bunt and trotted to third on a wild pitch. Avery Thomas lofted a sac fly to cut the margin to 5-1.

Youngblood singled home Leah Leonard in the fifth and pinch hitter Bri Stephens recorded a RBI ground out to score Scott for a then 9-3 tally.

FVSU moves on to face Lane College (11 a.m. EST) and Tuskegee (3:30 EST) in Day 2 of the event on Wednesday (March 13).

-Wildcats-