ALBANY, Ga. -- The 2018 softball season came to a close for Miles as the Lady Bears dropped decisions to Albany State (3-2) and Claflin (5-0 in 8 innings) Friday afternoon in the SIAC Softball Championship at Gordon Park. Miles (12-36) held the lead late against the Golden Rams and were tied with the Lady Panthers heading into extra innings before late-game heroics ended the season.

(E1) Albany State 3, (W2) Miles 2

Davis Watkins' RBI single in the first scored Zakierra Webb to give Miles a 1-0 lead. Albany State tied the score with an unearned run in the second but the Lady Bears would reclaim the lead in the fifth when a two-out single by Webb scored Kendruena McPherson.

McPherson was dealing from the circle and had retired 11 straight Golden Rams when disaster struck in the sixth. Pinch hitter Kendyl Davis hit a fly ball down the right field line but as right fielder Lydia Rodriguez gave chase, she injured her leg and fell to the ground. Davis would come all the way around for an inside-the-park home run to tie the game. A pinch-hit single by Aryn McGowan was followed by a RBI double from Mikyah Harris to give Albany State a 3-2 advantage.

Miles would put two runners on with two outs in the seventh but Webb would hit a ball to short, who threw to third to retire McPherson and end the ball game.

(E2) Claflin 5, (W2) Miles 0 (eight innings)

After having two great opportunities to win the game in regulation, Miles was unable stay alive as the defending SIAC champs eliminated the Lady Bears for the second straight year.

Over the first seven innings, McPherson was dealing. She allowed just four hits and just two Lady Panthers even reached third base. Conversely, the Lady Bears had put themselves in position to cash in against SIAC Pitcher of the Year Tiara Norman. In the fifth, Miles loaded the bases with no one out. But McPherson lined into a double play and Ombreyah Daly popped out to end the threat. In the seventh, controversy clouded the Lady Bears attempt to win the game.

With one out and runners on first and second, Kristie Looney hit a ball up the middle that looked like it was ticketed to the outfield with a chance for the winning run to score. But Chynna Gross collided with the shortstop who was trying to make a play on the ball. The umpire called interference on the shortstop, causing Gross to stop at third to load the bases. Claflin coach Marty Kinard came out and argued the call, causing him to get ejected. But that seemed to wake up Claflin, as McPherson fouled out and pinch hitter Magen Rich struck out to end the threat.

Claflin would explode in the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Jada Ames doubled to left center, which cleared the bases. Two more runs would score and Miles would go down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

All-Tournament: McPherson was named to the All-Tournament Team after striking out 20 hitters over three games and nearly tossing a no-hitter in a win over Benedict.