Albany, GA – The Albany State Lady Golden Rams opened their 2025 softball season with a tough start, falling in both games of Friday's season-opening doubleheader against Southern Wesleyan at West Campus Softball Field. The Lady Warriors claimed Game 1 with a 9-1 victory and Game 2 with an 8-2 win, handing Albany State its first 0-2 season start since 2021.

Game 1 Recap: Southern Wesleyan 9, Albany State 1

Albany State struck first, scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning to take an early 1-0 lead. However, that would be the Lady Golden Rams' only run of the game, as Southern Wesleyan responded with a four-run fifth inning and a five-run sixth to take full control.

Despite strong efforts from Romona McLeod, who recorded two hits, and Avery Fisher, who added another, the Golden Rams struggled to take advantage of their offensive opportunities. Southern Wesleyan's Amberly Way led her team's offense with two home runs and five RBIs, which helped the visitors pull away in the later stages of the game. ASU also faced pitching woes, with Kaliyah Barnes (0-1) taking the loss after allowing six runs in relief.

Game 2 Recap: Southern Wesleyan 8, Albany State 2

In the second game, Southern Wesleyan struck first, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. However, Albany State responded in the fourth inning with back-to-back solo home runs from Avery Fisher, tying the game 2-2.
Momentum shifted again in the fifth inning when Southern Wesleyan exploded for four runs, including a three-run homer by Rebecca Lamb, to reclaim the lead. The Lady Warriors tacked on two more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Fisher's two home runs were a bright spot for Albany State, but the team was limited to just four total hits in the game. Pitchers Barnes and Mary Scott Hulsey combined for three strikeouts but struggled to contain Southern Wesleyan's aggressive bats.

Up Next

The Lady Golden Rams (0-2) will look to bounce back when they remain at home for another non-conference doubleheader against Talladega College on Tuesday, February 6, 2025. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM at West Campus Softball Field.
Despite the opening losses, ASU looks to regroup and refocus as they work toward their first win of the season.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.