Doubleheaders Are Set For Lions Park Saturday And Sunday
RALEIGH, NC (March 31) – This weekend, Saint Augustine's University (SAU) will begin softball play in the CIAA Southern Division when the Lady Falcons host Johnson C. Smith University on Saturday, April 1 and Livingstone College on Sunday, April 2 at Lions Park. Admission is free to both doubleheaders which will start at 12 p.m. and approximately 2 p.m.
The Lady Falcons (7-9 overall) last played in the CIAA Round-Up on March 17-19 where they posted a 3-1 record. They defeated Elizabeth City State University, Bowie State University and Virginia State University in Charlotte, N.C. Their lone loss was against Chowan University.
SAU is powered by the hitting of Haili Pettifer (Jr./Langley, British Columbia) and Marley Parker (Jr./Langley, British Columbia). Pettifer ranks second (.422) and Parker third (.413) in the CIAA in batting average. Parker is the team leader in runs batted in (15) for the Lady Falcons, who lead the CIAA in batting average (.320).
The Lady Falcons are also getting major contributions from Makayla August (Fr./Palm Springs, CA), Jasmine Rios (Jr./Greensboro, NC), Akera McPhaul (Jr./Greensboro, NC), Meranda Zanni (Sr./Phoenix, OR), Korey Hill (Sr./Virginia Beach, VA), Haley Sessoms (Fr./Kenansville, NC) and Tamiera Sanchez (Fr./Sacramento, CA).
August leads the CIAA and ranks fifth nationally in Division II in triples (5) and Sessoms is tied with Parker for the most home runs (3) on the team. Sanchez leads the team in doubles (7) and McPhaul is second in doubles (5) and third on the squad in batting average (.382). Zanni has a 3-0 pitching record for the Lady Falcons while Rios is second on the team in triples (2) and Hill has eight RBIs.
Both the Lady Falcons and Johnson C. Smith appear to be early contenders for the Southern Division crown in what could be a five-team race for the title. Johnson C. Smith (4-2 CIAA, 9-10 overall) is led by Morgan Hasty, who is tied for fourth in the CIAA in batting average (.407). Alexis Smoot of Livingstone (0-4 CIAA, 1-9 overall) leads the CIAA in batting average (.476).
