March 20, 2018

AMERICUS- The Albany State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Georgia Southwestern University on Tuesday afternoon.
The Golden Rams took the opener 5-1 but the host Hurricanes bounced back to topple ASU 11-0 in five innings in game two. Lauren Lowrey was the winning pitcher for Albany State in the first game, improving her record to 4-7 as a starter this season.

The Golden Rams now sit at 11-14 on the year and look ahead to a three game SIAC series with Claflin beginning Friday on West Campus.

Albany State 5 Georgia Southwestern 1

The Golden Rams put up four runs on three hits and four GSW errors in their final at bat to capture the 5-1 victory in game one. After ASU put a runner on with the game tied in the top of the seventh, the Canes swapped out pitchers and made three defensive changes with ASU's Jade Williams coming up to the plate. Williams then reached on an error and along with Demeshia Russell, later came home on a single by Jordan Baranello. Baranello then found her way into scoring position after an error by the Canes' center fielder.

GSW committed two more errors to help ASU load the bases. Aryn McGowan then doubled to right field scoring two unearned runs and give the Golden Rams the four run lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Lowery faced four batters getting two fly outs to center and a ground out to first base to end the game.

Georgia Southwestern 11 Albany State 0

The Canes exacted revenge in game two, defeating the Golden Rams 11-0 in a shortened five innings. Ansley Dean hit a led off solo homer and two batters later GSW got a two run shot from Tierce Haley By the close of the first inning, the Canes (11-16) had jumped out to an 4-0 lead.

Georgia Southwestern got another home run from Dean in the second, an inning that saw the Canes put three more runs on the board. Haley kept the trend going, leading off what would be a four run fourth inning with her second homer of the contest.

The Golden Rams were held to just three hits in the game two shutout, credited to Brittany Childs who picked up her third win as a starting pitcher.

ASU and Claflin will begin play with a single game at 3pm on Friday and will hold a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1pm.