SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Wildcats did not forget their bats in middle Georgia. Fort Valley State's hitting motors were revved up and took both sides of the softball twinbill from Savannah State, 11-2 in six innings and 16-8 late.
After Savannah State pushed across a run in the opener's home first, FVSU's offense produced 27 runs on 27 hits in its final 12 at bats. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second, the Wildcats came alive as Avery Thomas and Jennifer Ramirez singled, before RBI were recorded off Mariah Williams hit by a pitch, Leah Leonard's two-run single, Riley Youngblood's single, Leila Leverett's sac fly and a run-scoring double off Alexia Scott doubled in the final tally for a 6-1 lead. The visitors added two runs in both the third and fifth and a single one in the fourth to put the game away.
Following a scoreless first, FVSU pushed the pedal down again on the offense. Ramirez knocked in the first visiting run of three in the second frame on a bunt single and she finished three more third-inning runs with a RBI single for a 6-0 lead. Leading 8-7 heading to the fifth, Williams laced a 2-run double as part of four runs and Chasity Kates singled home the third run of three more in the sixth to put the game out of reach, 15-7.
With the two victories, FVSU improves to 19-12 on the season for the program's most wins in 13 years since the team was 24-19 for 2011. The Wildcats also improved to 13-3 atop the SIAC East standings.
Ramirez will want to duplicate Thursday's output every doubleheader. The freshman was a perfect 8 for 8, 4 for 4 in each game, with six runs, two doubles, three RBI and two stolen bases. Thomas had her own top-notch day with a 5 for 9 two games with four runs and two doubles.
Leonard posted 2 for 3 efforts in each contest with two runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Youngblood singled twice in Game 1, scored three times and drove in a pair, while Riley Jenkins tripled and singled with two RBI in the second contest. Kates added a double and single in the second affair with two runs and a double. Williams, Scott and Taylor Orr each added doubles to the offensive numbers.
Rachel Clark gained the first-game win in the circle over five innings where she allowed two earned runs and five hits. Orr pitched a scoreless sixth. Taylor Watson toughed out the second game win as she fanned six in seven innings.
FVSU completes its 3-game series at Savannah State on Friday afternoon (March 29) in a 12 p.m. first pitch.
-Wildcats-
