ASU softball falls to Lane College; eliminated from SIAC championship

ALBANY — A close game for Albany State University quickly got out of hand. With the score 4-1, Lane College scored seven runs over the final five innings to advance in the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship with an 11-3 victory Friday afternoon.

With the victory Lane College eliminates the Golden Rams from the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

The Dragons got off to a good start, greeting Albany State starting pitcher Aryn McGowan by scoring four runs in the first two innings.

Knighton and Reed hit back-to-back singles to begin the rally. A double by Martin advanced both runners to end with four runner crossing home plate.

ASU answered with Lavette Tucker single to center field scored Terry to cut LC’s lead 4-1 in the bottom of the second inning. In the fourth, Lane added another run to grow its lead 5-1.

Things went downhill from that point. Lane took advantage of a pair of Albany State’s errors to score six runs in the final two innings to take the victory. The Golden Rams added its final two runs of the contest un the fifth and sixth innings.

Lavette Tucker led the Golden Rams going 2 for 4 with a two RBI at the plate. Aryn McGowan pitched the contest for the Golden Rams only allowing 16 hits, 11 runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

The Golden Rams had won earlier Friday morning to advance to play Lane College by beating Clark Atlanta. Locked in a fierce pitcher’s duel, the Albany State University softball team finally broke through with two runs in the top of the fourth inning to post the 2-1 upset victory over Clark Atlanta University Friday morning in its second contest of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

Albany State’s rally started with Glory Seay double to center field in the fourth inning scored Blanton and Stewartto give ASU a 2-0 lead. Clark Atlanta University answered in the top of the sixth inning when Laterria Jon singled to first base to plate Tatianna Kel but the latr rally wasn’t enough as the Golden Rams cruised to a 2-1 victory.

Seay, Tucker and Norman combined for all of Albany State’s five hits as Glory Seay was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

The starters –ASU’s Aryn McGowan and CAU’s Skylar Smith – did their best work with runners in scoring position, holding the team’s to 0-for-nine over the first four innings.

McGowan pitched the entire contest for the Golden Rams and only allowing five hits, one run, one walks and eight strikeouts.

Robert VogelRobert Vogel