FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats saw nothing but a sunny outcome after the rainy end of the weekend. Riley Youngblood slammed a pair of RBI doubles, including the sixth-inning game winner and led Fort Valley State to the series-clinching softball victory, 5-4, over rival Albany State.
Leading 4-2 going to the home sixth inning, Chasity Kates led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on Leah Leonard's ground out. After the second out, Youngblood sliced her second double to center field and scored Kates for a 5-2 score. The Wildcats would need the insurance run. ASU started the inning with the lead off hitter reaching on an error and then with two outs loaded the bases. A two-run Lady Ram single cut the margin to a single run, before Rachel Clark shut the door and enticed a fly out to end the day.
With the win, FVSU (27-15) clinches at least a share of the SIAC East title with its 19-4 record. Edward Waters stands second at 17-5, but it has a makeup game on Wednesday at ASU, which is 16-7. If ASU wins on Wednesday, FVSU wins the East outright, but it can also win the title as it makes up the third game at EWU of its series a month ago on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Youngblood took care of almost half of the Wildcat hits with a 3 for 4 day with two doubles and single with three RBI. Kates added a pair of singles with two runs and a stolen base. Leonard singled and score one time and Taylor Orr singled home a run. Alexia Scott completed the home hitting with a single, while Ashtyn Perkins scored a run.
For the second time in three games, Clark picked up the win over ASU. She went the complete seven innings with six hits, one earned run, a walk and one strikeout.
ASU held the advantage early in the game as it posted a single unearned run in the second and an earned score after a lead off single in the third for a 2-0 lead.
In the home third, Kates started the swing of momentum with a bunt single and moved to second on Leonard's liner to left field. Perkins joined them to load the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Youngblood belted her first double driving in the two lead runners to tie the game, 2-2. After an out, Orr singled to left to score Perkins for a lead FVSU would not give up, 3-2. Three hitters later, Avery Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk and made it 4-2.
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