RALEIGH, N.C. (April 9) – Saint Augustine's University relied on a high-octane offense to subdue Livingstone 13-5 and 9-8 in a CIAA softball doubleheader at Oakwood Park on Saturday.
The Lady Falcons pounded out 21 hits and 16 RBIs in two games to extend their winning streak to a season-high three games. Madison Poston (So./Florence, SC) was 6-for-7 at the plate with a team-high five RBIs to lead the way, including the game-clinching RBI in the second game. She also was the winning pitcher in the first game and earned the save in the second game.
Jada Swafford (Fr./Alexandria, LA) sparked the Lady Falcons' hitting attack in the first game. She was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, three runs scored, an inside-the-park home run and a double. Swafford hit a grand slam inside-the-park homer in the sixth inning but was credited with a double since the first two runs across the plate ended the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Victoria De La Cruz (So./Whittier, CA) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Poston was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a sacrifice fly. Shaquelle Bain (Sr./Nassau, Bahamas) recorded two RBIs and one run scored and Yasmine Thompson (Sr./Charlotte, NC) scored twice. Rashonda Hart (Fr./Nassau, Bahamas) had a double.
The second game was much closer, but Poston helped the Lady Falcons pull out the win. Her single to center field scored Shaquelle Bain to break an 8-8 tie in the sixth inning. The Lady Falcons held Livingstone scoreless in the top of the seventh for the victory.
Poston was 4-for-4 with three RBIs for the Lady Falcons. Hart knocked in two runs and Victoria Spoon (So./Holland Patent, NY) smacked an inside-the-park homer and a triple in addition to scoring two runs. Swafford, De La Cruz and Shaquelle Bain also scored twice.
Laurel Rolle (Fr./Nassau, Bahamas) was the winning pitcher after posting five strikeouts, two walks and two earned runs in 4.1 innings. Poston struck out five with no walks and no earned runs in 2.2 innings for the save.
For Livingstone, JLynn Wilson was 6-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, two triples, two inside-the-park homers, three RBIs and six runs. The Lady Blue Bears tallied 23 hits in two games.
The sweep completed a successful weekend for the Lady Falcons, who won three of four games. The split Friday's home doubleheader against Johnson C. Smith, winning 9-6 in the second game.
Their next doubleheader is Thursday, April 14, at Bluefield State in a non-conference doubleheader in Bluefield, W.Va. Game times are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
