Atlanta, Ga. — The Albany State Lady Golden Rams showed resilience, composure, and a true championship mindset Friday evening, rallying late to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over Clark Atlanta in a nine-inning battle to open the series.
Locked in a scoreless duel through seven innings, Albany State remained poised, trusting its approach and waiting for the right moment to strike—and that moment came in the eighth.

With momentum building, Erielle Reid delivered a clutch RBI single to center field, bringing home Kaylah Howard to give the Lady Golden Rams a 1-0 lead. The Panthers responded in the bottom half to even the score, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

In the ninth inning, Albany State rose to the occasion.

With a runner on, Abbigale Jones stepped up and delivered the game's biggest swing—launching a two-run home run to left field to put the Lady Golden Rams ahead 3-1. The decisive blast showcased Albany State's ability to deliver in high-pressure moments and ultimately proved to be the difference.

In the circle, McKenzie Fitch was outstanding from start to finish. The right-hander went the distance, tossing all nine innings while allowing just two runs. She consistently kept Clark Atlanta off balance, inducing key outs and maintaining control throughout the contest to earn her 17th win of the season.

At the plate, Albany State's offense produced timely contributions across the lineup. Reid led the way with a stellar 3-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Mackenzie Nervis added two hits and scored a crucial run. Olivia Mason chipped in with a triple, and the Lady Golden Rams totaled eight hits in the contest.

Defensively, Albany State remained sharp and disciplined, playing error-free softball and turning a key double play to help limit scoring opportunities.

Albany State will look to carry that momentum into the series finale, as the Lady Golden Rams return to action tomorrow, April 11, for a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m.

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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 competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.