SAU Softball Ends Season With CIAA Tourney Loss To Fayetteville State

Box Score

SALEM, Va. (May 1) – Marley Parker (Sr./Langley, British Columbia) of Saint Augustine's University smacked a solo home run in her final collegiate at-bat in a 12-6 softball loss to Fayetteville State University at the Moyer Sports Complex on Tuesday.

The defeat in the elimination bracket of the CIAA Tournament ended a marvelous season for the Lady Falcons, who claimed the Southern Division title during the regular season. The Lady Falcons finished with a 17-10 overall mark.

Parker, an All-CIAA first team selection, was an offensive force for the Lady Falcons. She was 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored. All-CIAA first teamer Tamiera Sanchez (So./Sacramento, CA) finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored in addition to making several nice catches in center field. Chandra Mackey (Fr./Nassau, Bahamas) had one RBI and one run scored.

Despite Parker's hitting, the Lady Falcons couldn't overcome the absence of two starters due to injuries. One starter injured her hand during the Lady Falcons' sweep of the Broncos two weekends ago which clinched the division championship. Another starter injured her ankle in an 11-3 tournament win over Virginia Union University on Monday, April 30.

Beset by injuries, the Lady Falcons trailed 4-0 in the first inning and 10-1 in the fourth inning. The Lady Falcons came to life in the fifth inning as they scored four runs to cut the deficit to 10-5. Parker, nursing a sore rotator cuff, doubled in two runs and Mackey singled in Parker. Mackey scored the fourth run when she stole third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

The Broncos scored twice in the sixth inning to stretch their margin to seven runs. The lead would hold but not before Parker provided one last highlight for the Lady Falcons. She smashed a pitch over the left center field wall in the seventh inning for a home run, her second in the tournament in two days.

Parker was part a special senior group which included All-CIAA players Akera McPhaul (Sr./Greensboro, NC), Jasmine Rios (Sr./Greensboro, NC) and Haili Pettifer (Sr./Langley, British Columbia). During their brilliant four-year career, the foursome played key roles on Lady Falcon teams which captured one CIAA championship, two Southern Division crowns, one NCAA Division II batting title and one CIAA Team Highest Grade Point Average Award in addition to earning the University's first-ever NCAA Division II tournament berth. Their teams posted a 40-22 record against CIAA opponents during the regular season.

A solid nucleus is back for the Lady Falcons next season including All-CIAA stalwarts Makayla August (So./Palm Springs, CA) and Haley Sessoms (So./Kenansville, NC), and All-CIAA Rookie Team member Mechelle Moss (So./Nassau, Bahamas).

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Players Mentioned

#3 Akera McPhaul: Util; 5' 7"; Junior

#7 Marley Parker: P/UTIL; 5' 10"; Junior

#13 Haili Pettifer: C/3B; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Jasmine Rios: CF/Util; 5' 7"; Junior

#22 Makayla August: P/SS; 5' 8"; Freshman

#5 Tamiera Sanchez: CF/SS; 5' 5"; Freshman

#9 Haley Sessoms: SS/Util; 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Akera McPhaul
: 5' 7"; Junior
: Util

#7 Marley Parker
: 5' 10"; Junior
: P/UTIL

#13 Haili Pettifer
: 5' 10"; Junior
: C/3B

#4 Jasmine Rios
: 5' 7"; Junior
: CF/Util

#22 Makayla August
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: P/SS

#5 Tamiera Sanchez
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: CF/SS

#9 Haley Sessoms
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: SS/Util

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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