TUSKEGEE, Ala. — The Tuskegee softball team, sitting atop the SIAC standings with a 23-6 overall record and an impressive 17-2 mark in conference play, will hit the road this weekend to face longtime rival Miles College in a pivotal three-game series.
The series opens with a Friday afternoon doubleheader at 12 p.m. at Bill Noble Park in Gardendale, Alabama, and concludes with a Sunday finale, also scheduled for 1 p.m.
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (22-5, 17-2 SIAC)
Tuskegee enters the weekend in dominant form, fueled by a high-powered offense, elite pitching staff, and reliable team defense.
The Golden Tigers are batting a robust .333 as a team, with 10 home runs, 39 doubles, and 190 RBIs across just 27 games.
Veteran Alexis Thompson headlines the offense with a .412 batting average, 31 RBIs, and a .662 slugging percentage, while Kaeley Roldan (.339 AVG, 19 RBIs) and Carole Ross (.327 AVG, .492 OBP) provide crucial depth in the lineup.
Six different players are hitting over .375, and the Golden Tigers are an aggressive base-running team, racking up 68 stolen bases in 75 attempts for a 91% success rate.
The pitching staff has been equally dominant, led by Monica Rose, who boasts a 12-2 record and a 2.22 ERA over 91.1 innings with 100 strikeouts.
Kamya Hampton has also been a strong option, posting a 9-3 record and 1.96 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 68.0 innings. Together, the Tuskegee arms have limited opponents to a .223 batting average and have recorded 161 strikeouts to just 46 walks over 163 total innings.
Defensively, Tuskegee holds a team fielding percentage of .928. Roldan has been solid behind the plate with a .992 fielding percentage and 12 runners caught stealing, while the outfield and infield units continue to make routine plays and limit extra-base hits.
The team has committed only 48 errors, compared to 58 by their opponents, giving Tuskegee a slight edge in the fielding game.
ABOUT MILES (9-23, 9-6 SIAC)
Miles enters the series with a 9-23 overall record but remains in the thick of the SIAC playoff hunt with a 9-6 conference record.
Though inconsistent in non-conference play, the Golden Bears have shown flashes of potential.
Offensively, they are batting .259 as a team, led by Auriel Moultry (.370 AVG), Skylar Jones (.340 AVG), and Mikayla Williams (.324 AVG).
Genia Hall provides pop in the middle of the order with a .320 average, three home runs, and a team-high 27 RBIs. Miles is also dangerous on the basepaths, stealing 84 bases in 103 attempts for an 82% conversion rate.
However, the Golden Bears have struggled mightily on the mound, carrying a team ERA of 8.00 and allowing opponents to hit .349.
Their most effective pitcher, Shakayla Terry, holds a 6-4 record and 4.69 ERA in 65.2 innings, but the rest of the staff has allowed a combined 151 earned runs over 105 innings. Opponents have racked up 266 hits and 25 home runs against Miles' pitching, suggesting that limiting Tuskegee's high-powered offense will be a daunting task.
In the field, Miles has been slightly more consistent with the glove, posting a .933 team fielding percentage while turning 10 double plays.
Despite that, defensive miscues at key moments have hurt their chances in close games. Jada Bradford (57 putouts, 9 assists) and Jazlin Mitchell (.967 FLD%) have anchored the defense up the middle, but the team has 51 errors overall.
With first place in the conference standings and postseason seeding on the line, this weekend's matchup between Tuskegee and Miles carries significant weight.
Tuskegee will look to continue its momentum and extend its win total, while Miles aims to defend its home field and earn a signature series win.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Softball, visit GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
