Lady Rams Fall To UMES 13-3 In Second Game Of Hampton Tournament - WINSTON-SALEM STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

March 18, 2006

HAMPTON, VA. - The UMES softball team picked up their second win of the season when they defeated future MEAC member Winston-Salem State (WSSU) in the second game of the Hampton tournament Friday afternoon. The Lady Hawks scored 13 runs on 13 hits and had 11 runs in the fifth inning alone in the decisive come from behind victory.

Freshman sensation Kendra Saunders, who is batting .442 in 16 games this season, homered in the first inning to give UMES a 2-0 advantage early in the game. WSSU put one on the board in the bottom of that inning when Amber Shore's double plated Leslie Hollis.

The Lady Rams took the lead in the third as Shore's single scored Hollis and Tisha Bell, pushing Winston-Salem ahead by one run, 3-2.

The maroon and gray opened the floodgates in the fifth inning when they put up 11 runs on eight hits. Jenille Edwards' home run drove in two RBI's while Saunders scored an unearned run due to an error by the pitcher.

Kristen Greenwood's single to center field plated Heather Patnode. Latoya Bailey later capitalized on a passed ball to score the Hawks' fifth run of that inning while Charlotte Ngondi drove in Greenwood to put UMES up 8-3.

Saunders had her first collegiate grand slam when she blasted one home to plate Ngondi, Candace Tyler and Christina Mason. Greenwood sent Patnode home in her second time up before the Lady Rams were able to stop the bleeding. Greenwood retired the next three batters in the bottom of the fifth as the Lady Hawks cruised to the mercy-rule victory. She got the win for UMES, giving up just four hits and no walks.

Saunders had a perfect 4-4 outing with six RBI's and three runs, including two home runs. Bailey finished 2-3 while Greenwood went 2-4. Greenwood and Edwards picked up two RBI's a piece while Ngondi finished with one. Mason, Patnode and Ngondi each had two runs and also picked up one hit apiece.

Shore went 2-2 for WSSU while Hollis finshed 1-2 with two runs.

The maroon and gray dropped a 9-2 contest earlier in the day in their first game at the Hampton tournament while the Lady Rams fell in defeat 704 to host-team Hampton. UMES will culminate play at the Hampton tournament when they battle Hampton on Saturday while the Lady Rams take on Morgan State.

For additional information on WSSU women's softball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com

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Softball