Orangeburg, SC (April 18, 2023) — The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs softball team captured their first series win over the weekend defeating Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Lady Bulldog Softball Field.
In the first of a doubleheader, Saturday (April 15th), SC State (5-24, 4-9 MEAC) took the lead in with Jade Hendricks (Easley, SC) stealing home, and Taylor Ames-Alexander (Lancaster, SC) scoring on a passed ball leading in the first inning. Howard (12-23, 5-9 MEAC) scored one run by L. Ricks off a triple by S. Fletcher. The Lady Bulldogs went on to score two more runs in the third inning. Howard gained two runs in the top of the six, but the SCSU held their ground ending game one 4-3. Hendricks led the game with four stolen bases, with the win, it snapped a six-game losing streak against Howard dating back March 2019.
In game two of the series, Howard posted an 0-5 shutout win over the SC State. The Bison put up one run in the first, two in the second, and two in the seven innings, only allowing SC State three hits in the game.
In the final game of the series on Sunday (April 16th), the Lady Bulldogs built an 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Howard put together four runs in the fourth and two in the sixth to take the lead (6-5). Zarria Smith (Union, SC) came in as relief pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs. SC State gain two runs by Kaylah Leslie and Hendricks in the bottom of the 6th to take the lead back (6-7). Leslie went three-for-three at the plate to lead the Bulldogs in hits of the day, while Smith who had an impressive game and earned the win with two strikeouts in the seventh inning.
UP NEXT: South Carolina State will travel to Charleston, SC to take on the College of Charleston in a non-conference double-header on Wednesday, April 19. Then, will hit the road to take on Morgan State in Baltimore, Maryland on April 22-23 in a three-game series league showdown.
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