April 3, 2004
Winston-Salem, NC - It was a weird one for WSSU as the lead would change hands three times and the two teams combined for 25 hits and 19 runs, but the Lady Rams softball team awoke in the fourth inning of play, scoring seven times en route to a 10-9 victory over their arch rival, the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University in CIAA softball action on Saturday afternoon at Southpark Field.
The Lady Rams, who went down one-two-three in the first inning of inning of play drew first blood in the second inning. With two base-runners aboard an FSU passed ball advanced Heather Davis to third base and Toyia Vaughn to second base, putting both in scoring position. Jennifer Jones-Cockerham, the next WSSU batter, walked on five pitches, loading the bases, and setting the table for SaRhonda Hawkins.
Hawkins smashed a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Davis from third base, but a questionable base-running decision by Vaughn left her clutching second base. However, her conservative base-running proved to be a moot point on the very next play as a L'Tisha Bell bloop single scored the speedy Vaughn all the way from second base to give WSSU a 2-0 lead and advancing the even faster Jones-Cockerham to third base where she scored one pitch later on a passed ball. The inning would end on a pop out to first base after only two more pitches, but not before the Lady Rams would tattoo FSU for an early three-run lead.
It looked as though the Lady Rams were in control of the contest, but the Lady Broncos, a CIAA softball powerhouse, proved that they had other ideas. FSU started the inning off with a triple and used two walks and an error, as well as tacking on a pair of additional hits, as they torched WSSU for four runs in the inning to take over the lead in the contest at 4-3.
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WSSU would respond immediately. Tamika Ferguson would equal the FSU charge from the previous inning as she smashed a triple to center field on the very first offering from FSU's Rosa Graham. She would score to tie the game at 4-4 on a passed ball three pitches later. Three consecutive WSSU singles loaded the bases for LaKelsha Carney who promptly delivered the Lady Rams' fourth straight hit, driving home Jones-Cockerham and scoring SaRhonda Hawkins on a fielding error by FSU's left fielder. Curtina Barrett delivered next as she belted the Lady Rams' second triple of the inning and drove in a pair of runs in the process to give WSSU a four-run cushion before she too would score on a passed ball making it 9-4.
Unfortunately, for the Lady Broncos the inning was far from over. Toyia Vaughn laced the Lady Rams' third triple of the inning to left field and drove in WSSU starting pitcher Heather Davis in the process, increasing WSSU's lead to six runs at 10-4. Two consecutive ground outs later the inning was finally over for FSU as they found themselves trailing by six runs after holding a one-run lead only three outs earlier.
The Lady Broncos mounted a charge in the next inning, and after three straight singles of their own, had filled the bases without an out and looked to threaten WSSU's six-run lead. However, a key double-play and a pop out later, Heather Davis and the Lady Rams would escape the top-half of the fifth inning unscathed, clinging to a six-run lead.
The six-run lead would not last as Heather Davis was hit hard in the next inning and the Lady Rams surrendered five more runs as Josephine Prince bashed a triple to deep center field with the bases loaded and then scored on a sacrifice bunt to trim WSSU's lead to only one run at 10-9. A lazy fly ball to right field closed out FSU in the top half of the sixth inning, but not before they trimmed a six-run deficit to one-run.
The top of the seventh inning saw the Lady Broncos get four base-runners and despite putting three of them in scoring position, FSU fell just short of a comeback win as they were unable to generate any runs in the inning as they fell in defeat.
With the win the Lady Rams improve to 16-6 overall (13-0 CIAA) and 5-0 in the CIAA Western Division. The Lady Broncos fall to 11-17 overall (10-5 CIAA) and 7-2 in the Western Division. Heather Davis picks up the win for WSSU and improves to 12-6 on the season as she pitches her 17th complete game of 2004. Saddled with the loss is FSU pitcher Rosa Graham who falls to 11-13 overall.
The two teams will return to action for the second game of the doubleheader at 2:00 pm.
