COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Wildcats live to fight another day. Following a game of missed opportunities starting the day, Fort Valley State answered the bell and outscored Albany State, and advanced in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament.
Trailing 3-2 heading to the third inning, Chasity Kates drew a lead off walk, stole second and moved to third on Taylor Orr's fielder's choice. Avery Thomas tied the game when her grounder to short stop was misplayed to tie the contest. Riley Jenkins lofted a sac fly and Ashtyn Perkins added a two-run single for a 6-3 lead. FVSU outscored ASU by a 4-3 margin over the final 4.5 innings for the 10-6 Loser's Bracket win.
The Wildcats move on to the second day of the SIAC Tournament. In the second round of Elimination Games, FVSU takes on the SIAC West winner Spring Hill College. The contest has a first pitch of 11 a.m. on the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.
Starting the day, FVSU controlled the game, but it could not take advantage of its opportunities. Tied at 1-1 going to the home fourth, the Wildcats edged ahead when Kates singled in Selena Linsenbach,who pinch ran for Laila Leverett, for a 2-1 lead. FVSU left runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth before Miles College retied the contest, 2-2, with three hits in the top of the sixth. For a second at bat in a row, the Wildcats left two on base in the home sixth. The Lady Bears took advantage with four scores on two extra base hits and a Wildcat error for a 6-2 lead. FVSU was unable to score in the seventh to end the contest.
FVSU posted 12 hits in the Monday action. Alexia Scott accounted for a third of them with a double and three singles, a 3 for 3 second game, and three runs. Kates singled two times and swiped four bases, while Perkins went 2 for 3 against ASU with two RBI and a run. Jennifer Ramirez lined a two-run single in the late game and Riley Youngblood singled in each contest with one RBI. E'Lisia Vickers added a key RBI single against ASU.
Rachel Clark covered the final four innings for the win over ASU where she gave up five hits, one earned run and a strikeout. She also logged the first 5.1 frames of the first contest with three strikeouts.
vs. ASU
Ramirez put the first two runs of the contest on the scoreboard with a two-out, two-run single to drive in both Avery Thomas, who walked, and Scott, who laid down a bunt single.
Ahead 6-4 in the top of the fifth, Scott laced a two-out double and Jenkins was hit by a pitch. Vickers stepped in and lined a pinch hit RBI single for a 7-4 tally.
Leading 7-5 in the sixth, Orr ground out and scored Leah Leonard, who reached on an error, and pinch runner Zayla Skakel ran home when Thomas reached on a second ASU error to make it 9-5.
Perkins led off the seventh with a single, Ramirez sacrificed her to second, moved to third on Leonard's fly out and added an insurance run when Kates reached on an ASU miscue for what would be the final score of 10-6.
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