FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats continued its sold play on Wednesday. Fort Valley State used a Taylor Watson one-hitter to open the day and it plated five first-inning runs on the way to a 4-1 and 8-0 sweep of Wesleyan College softball.
After Wesleyan scored a run in the top of the third off a home error, FVSU (22-12) went to work in home half. Chasity Kates led off with a single and moved to second on an error on the play, before she came right home to tie on a Mariah Williams single to right. Williams stole second and raced around for the Wildcat lead on a Leah Leonard single. With two out, Jennifer Ramirez drove in Leonard. Watson took it from there without allowing a hit over the final four frames and completed her one-hitter.
FVSU wasted no time to jump on the visitors in the second contest. Following a pair of Wolves runners stranded on in the first, Williams and Leonard lined back-to-back singles. Both Wildcats would score when Ramirez tripled to center. Avery Thomas reached on an error to score two more before Kates singled the fifth one home for a 5-0 lead. Rachel Clark and Taylor Orr combined for the six-hit shutout from there in five innings.
Over the 12 innings, FVSU's offense lined 16 hits. Leonard led the way with a 5 for 7 afternoon with three runs, two RBI and four stolen bases. Williams added three singles in six at bats with three runs, a RBI and five stolen bases. Ramirez tripled and single with three RBI. Laila Leverett and Orr each doubled, and Kates singled twice. Riley Jenkins went 2 for 2 with a RBI and a stolen base in Game 2.
Watson allowed only the run-scoring hit in the third over seven innings of work to improve to 7-4 overall. She gave up two walks and struck out five.
Clark took her record to 11-6 as she covered the first three innings with five hits and three strikeouts. Orr went the last two and gave up only one hit and walked one.
Game 1
Leading 3-1 in the sixth, E'Lisia Vickers was hit by a pitch, Kates laid down a sac bunt and Leonard singled Vickers home for the final run.
Game 2
Ahead 5-0 in the second, Leonard singled and stole second before Leverett doubled her around home. Jenkins lined a RBI single to score Orr, who doubled, in the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.
Following a lineout double play to end the top of the fifth, Williams was hit by a pitch to start the home at bat. She stole second, moved to third on a Leonard hit and end the game by scoring on a passed ball.
FVSU will now be off until Saturday (April 6) when it returns to SIAC play for a doubleheader at Allen University starting at 1 and 3 p.m.
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