TUSKEGEE, Ala. –– The Tuskegee University softball team opened its SIAC weekend series in dominant fashion on Saturday, sweeping a home doubleheader against LeMoyne-Owen with a pair of five-inning run-rule victories at the TU Softball Field.

The Golden Tigers claimed a 9-1 win in the opener before erupting for a 14-6 victory in the nightcap to improve their momentum heading into Sunday's series finale.

Tuskegee 9, LeMoyne-Owen 1 (5 Innings)
In game one, Tuskegee wasted little time setting the tone offensively, breaking through in the first inning when Alarryn Beckley delivered an RBI single that helped plate the game's first run. After a quiet second inning, the Golden Tigers exploded in the third, putting together a decisive rally that created separation on the scoreboard.

Kenya Tatum ignited the inning with an RBI triple, and Taneah Gibbons followed with a run-scoring single to extend the lead. Ava Meredith added a two-RBI double to the gap, while Beckley reached on a fielder's choice that brought in another run. Kaitlyn Fletcher capped the inning with a two-run home run to center, pushing the Tuskegee advantage to 9-0.

LeMoyne-Owen managed to get on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI walk, but Tuskegee's early offensive outburst proved more than enough as the game ended via run rule in the fifth.

Tuskegee finished with 12 hits in the opener, led by Fletcher, who homered and drove in two runs, while Tatum and Meredith each recorded multiple RBIs. Beckley added a multi-hit performance and contributed three RBIs from the top of the lineup.

In the circle, Monica Rose delivered a strong outing, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out nine over five innings to earn the win. LeMoyne-Owen's offense was limited throughout, managing just two hits and leaving multiple runners stranded.

Tuskegee 14, LeMoyne-Owen 6 (5 Innings)
The second game saw LeMoyne-Owen strike first, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Tuskegee responded immediately in the bottom half, turning in one of its most productive innings of the day.

Tatum tied the game with a two-run single before Gibbons launched a three-run home run to left, giving Tuskegee a 5-2 advantage after one inning. The Golden Tigers continued to build on that momentum in the second, scoring five more runs behind a combination of timely hits and aggressive baserunning.

Gibbons added another RBI during the rally, while Daniella Simon and Fletcher each delivered run-scoring hits to extend the lead to 10-2. Tuskegee remained aggressive at the plate in the third, with Gibbons connecting again for a solo home run, and the Golden Tigers added additional runs to push the margin to 12-4.

LeMoyne-Owen attempted to close the gap with a two-run fourth inning, but Tuskegee answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly from Raina Ross and an RBI fielder's choice from Shawna McNair to extend the lead to 14-6, sealing the second run-rule victory of the day.

Tuskegee totaled 15 hits in the second game, highlighted by a dominant performance from Gibbons, who recorded multiple hits, including two home runs and six RBIs. Tatum added three hits and drove in three runs, while Simon contributed three hits and an RBI in a balanced offensive effort.

Journey Madison scored three runs at the top of the order, while Fletcher added two hits and two RBIs as Tuskegee showcased depth throughout the lineup.

In the circle, Jordan Garcia earned the win, pitching five innings while allowing six runs (four earned) and striking out seven. Despite early pressure, Garcia settled in and limited further damage as the Golden Tigers' offense pulled away.

Up Next
With the sweep, Tuskegee will look to complete the series win on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at the TU Softball Field.
 
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. 
  Read Full Article