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April 9, 2009
Fayetteville, NC - Fayetteville State's right-fielder LaTonia Gatling (freshman - Suffolk, VA) sacrificed a hit in an extra inning of the first game for a 3-2 victory versus Virginia State University. The Lady Broncos continued to sacrifice in the second game for a 1-0 hurrah. Virginia State entered Leonard R. Sanders Field (Seabrook Park) with a swagger as the Lady Trojans battle with Bowie State for a stake in the CIAA Eastern Division. VSU popped two on the board in the third inning. The Lady Trojans tried for three when Judy Hatch tripled to right-center field to bring in the first two runs. As centerfielder, Dominique Mills raced for the ball; Hatch had an eyeball on home plate. Mills scooped up the ball and hurled it to shortstop Rakhee Smith (Hope Mills, NC), who relayed it home to Danisha Lyons (Wendell, NC) for the tag. As the cloud of dust cleared, the umpire threw his first in a forward motion to call Hatch out on the play. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Broncos loaded the bases with its first three batters. After one out, FSU laid down two bunts to bring in two runners and tie the score. With bases still loaded, the Lady Trojans allowed for a fielder's choice to reach first. The third baseman aimed for home to stop the attempted score. In the force out play, the catcher tagged the base and turned a double-play by tossing the ball to the shortstop that stood on third. The game remained tied throughout the bottom of the seventh inning. Reverting to International Rule for the extra inning, the Lady Trojans placed its last batter on second base. CIAA Pitcher of the Week, Tracy Brighter (8-5 overall - Spring Lake, NC) sent the first two batters back into the dugout after they stuck-out swinging. The third batter flew out to Mills.
Danisha Lyons was placed on second base in accordance to the International Rule. Briana Montgomery grounded out to the third baseman for a sacrifice in order for Lyons advancement to third base. That's when Gatling nailed a fly ball to left field for the sacrifice fly which allowed Lyons to tag-up and beat the throw home for the winning score. Game 2 Both teams made adjustments prior to the second game and buckled down for a heated afternoon game. The two teams stood their ground on defense and limited the scoreboard to zero points. As the bottom of the sixth inning commenced, Briana Montgomery reached first base on VSU's second error of the game and stole second base. Dominique Mills grounded out to the second baseman which allowed Montgomery to advance on the sacrifice. April Branch singled to left field for a RBI as Montgomery scored. With two outs, the Lady Broncos loaded the bases. After one run, two hits, and one error, Demarius Pankey went for all the marbles and nailed the ball into centerfield. Unfortunately, the centerfielder covered the ball ended the inning. Virginia State failed to overtake the game in the top of the seventh inning. The first batter flew out to Gatling in the right-field while the second batter fouled out to Pankey. FSU Pitcher Kristen Britt (11-12 overall) struck the third batter out swinging. |
