Albany, Ga. — The Albany State Lady Golden Rams delivered a complete and electrifying performance on day one of their SIAC weekend series, sweeping Fort Valley State in a doubleheader at the ASU Softball Field.
In game one, the Lady Golden Rams wasted no time responding after an early Fort Valley run, erupting for a five-run surge across the second and third innings to take control of the game. Olivia Mason sparked the offense with an RBI walk before
Erielle Reid and Ari McKenzie followed with run-producing at-bats to give Albany State the lead for good.
The momentum only continued to build as
Tranasia Parker launched a solo home run in the third inning, igniting the crowd and extending the advantage.
McKenzie Fitch added to the offensive explosion with a two-RBI single. At the same time,
Kyla Fitch and McKenzie continued to deliver key hits, keeping the pressure on Fort Valley throughout the game.
Albany State's lineup was relentless, recording 10 hits and drawing six walks, with multiple players contributing across the board.
Kaylah Howard and Abbi Jones each crossed the plate twice, while Mason, Reid, and Parker all played key roles in keeping innings alive and productive.
In the circle,
McKenzie Fitch was once again steady and reliable, tossing a complete game to earn her 19th win of the season. She controlled the tempo from start to finish, allowing just one earned run while keeping Fort Valley off balance and securing the 8-3 victory.
Game two brought even more excitement, as the Lady Golden Rams showcased their grit in a dramatic 10-inning battle. After battling back to tie the game late, Albany State leaned on timely hitting and composure under pressure to secure a thrilling 6-5 walk-off win.
Ari McKenzie delivered a pivotal moment in the sixth inning with a two-RBI single to even the score, while
Kaylah Howard continued her strong day at the plate, finishing with four hits and an RBI. The Lady Golden Rams continued to apply pressure, finding ways to manufacture runs and capitalize on opportunities.
In extra innings, Albany State refused to be denied.
Tranasia Parker delivered in a key moment to help tie the game in the 10th, setting the stage for
Amari Mapps, who came through with the game-winning RBI single to seal the victory and complete the sweep.
The Lady Golden Rams displayed balance throughout game two, collecting 15 hits with contributions from across the lineup.
Erielle Reid and Abbi Jones set the tone at the top, while McKenzie, Howard, and Mapps delivered in key situations.
The Lady Golden Rams will look to carry that energy into the series finale as they return to the field on April 19 at 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day, where they will honor their graduating class and aim to complete the series sweep over their conference rival.
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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.
