ALBANY, Ga. -- Miles dropped a close opening game against top-seed Albany State but was able to rebound in an elimination contest with a win over Savannah State on the first day of the SIAC Softball Championships at the Gordon Sports Complex. Kiana Terry had three hits, Erielle Reid stole four bases and Zamiyah Williams pitched well in a complete-game win to help the Lady Bears (14-25-1) advance.

GAME 1 - (1E) Albany State 4, (4W) Miles 1

The Lady Bears took an early lead but could not get the big hits they needed in the later innings as the top-seeded Lady Rams defeated Miles for the second time this season.

Miles scored in the top of the first when Reid led off with a walk, stole both second and third base, and scored on a one-out single by Genia Hall for a 1-0 lead. But Albany State took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame as Sydney Pettus hit a two-run homer off starter Mikaylah Harris. The Lady Bears had an opportunity to tie the score in the fourth as DeOnia Gibby and Michelle Tanks both singled. But a line out by Shalayiah Waid ended the rally.

Albany State added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take control. But Miles had a few more opportunities. The Lady Bears put runners on first and third in the fifth but could not get a two-out hit to plate the run. In the seventh, Terry doubled with one out but she was left stranded as the Lady Rams closed out the contest.

GAME 2 - (4W) Miles 5, (3E) Savannah State 2

Williams allowed just two early unearned runs, then held down the fort until the offense came to life in the come-from-behind win that brought Savannah State's season to a close.

Niya Westbrook's RBI ground out scored Reid in the first for the early lead but the Lady Bears trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth. Three consecutive singles from Waid, Terry, and Destinee Smith tied the score before Kiara Cobb's groundout scored Terry for a 3-2 advantage. Miles added some insurance in the sixth when Gibby drove in Westbrook with a groundout and Hall, who had singled and stole second, came in on a Lady Tigers error. Savannah State brought the tying run to the plate with no outs in the seventh but Williams pitched out of the jam to help Miles advance.

UP NEXT - Miles will play the loser of the Benedict-Tuskegee game in an elimination game. First pitch is scheduled for noon.