COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Wildcats kept its solid diamond play coming on Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State used two big at bats with a six-run fifth in the opener and nine-run first of the late contest and spelled a twinbill softball sweep at Allen University, 10-2 and 17-0, both in five innings.
Leading 4-2, Riley Youngblood and Alexia Scott led off the fifth frame with back-to-back doubles to begin the first big-run outburst. An Allen error and a wild pitch brought both home before Laila Leverett singled another teammate home and Leah Leonard singled in two more for a 10-2 lead. Taylor Watson triggered a double play to end the winning effort for FVSU.
The Wildcats had their biggest at bat of the 2024 season starting the late contest. FVSU saw its first four and nine of the first 10 hitters reach base started by singles by Mariah Williams, Leonard and Leverett. Taylor Orr then had a two-run error to right field and Jennifer Ramirez and one-run double. Riley Jenkins followed with a two-run home run before Williams doubled in another on her second trip to the plate in the at bat. Leonard drove in one more on a ground out and Leverett singled in the ninth run. In the circle, Orr allowed only four hits and struck out five in the complete-game shutout.
With the two victories, FVSU ties its most season wins in 13 years at 24 as it is now 24-12 for the 2024 – the 2011 Wildcats finished at 24-19.
FVSU recorded 28 hits in only 10 at bats on the afternoon. Leonard paced the attack with a 5 for 7 day with five RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Leverett posted a 4 for 6 day with three runs, five RBI and two stolen bases. Williams, Chasity Kates and E'Lisia Vickers all chipped in a double and two singles apiece – Williams scored three times, drove in one and stole three bases, while Kates scored three times, had one RBI and swiped one base and Vickers scored four times in Game 2.
Youngblood, Ramirez, Scott, Ashtyn Perkins and Zayla Skakel contributed doubles. Jenkins jacked her two-run homer and singled with two runs and two RBI in the late contest. Selena Lisenbach lined a two-run single in the visiting fifth of the late game ending FVSU's scoring for the day.
Watson improved to 8-4 with the opener pitching win. Orr posted her first collegiate shutout, a four-hitter, and struck out five as she is now 5-2.
FVSU wraps up its 3-game SIAC series against Allen on Sunday (April 7) in a 1 p.m. first pitch.
-Wildcats-
