Softball wins SIAC Championships opener
Box Score
HEPHZIBAH, Ga. -- Two five-run innings helped West No. 1 Miles take down East No. 4 Benedict 13-5 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships opener for both teams at Diamond Lakes Regional Park Thursday afternoon.
SIAC Utility Player of the Year Kendruena McPherson showed her versatility in the opener, getting two hits, driving in four runs, and pitching the final two innings to save the game for starter
Grayson Culverson (6-3). Her final knock, a 2-out single in the fifth that drove in two runs, turned into the final play of the game when Benedict center fielder Torcealon Kelly misplayed the ball, which allowed McPherson to come all the way around to score and invoke the eight-run mercy rule.
Victoria McDaniel's RBI triple and a two-run single by
Davis Watkins helped Miles (15-26) to a 5-0 advantage after three innings. The Tigers (24-23) cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fourth but the Golden Bears got those runs right back in the bottom of the frame as
Ashlee Alexander drove in a run with a double and McPherson knocked in two with her own double.
Benedict added two more in the fifth but after getting two outs, they could not close out the inning. McDaniel knocked in
Jordan Jones with a single and Alexander scored on a wild pitch before McPherson ended the contest.
The Golden Bears advance in the winner's bracket to face East No. 2 Albany State in the first of two games on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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