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201819 #03 Paige Scruggs running vs UVA Wise

Softball

Jackets drop NCAA Opener to WSSU

Box Score Story by Chris Wade 
WVSU 2006

INSTITUTE, W,Va. – West Virginia State University was shut out for just for the second time all season as Winston-Salem State defeated the Yellow Jackets 3-0 in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Softball Atlantic Region 2 Tournament Thursday afternoon at Lady Jacket Field.

Rams starting pitcher Erica Davis hurled a complete game shutout for Winston-Salem State, scattering four hits with one strikeout and one walk. The right handed junior improves to 15-7 on the season.

With the victory, the No. 7 seed Rams (33-11) advance to play West Chester University (35-19) on Friday at 11 a.m. in the winners bracket championship game. The Winner advances to Saturday's Championship at 12:00 p.m. The Loser will play and elimination game at 4:00 p.m.

"Pitching a shutout is great and this was a huge win for us," Winston-Salem State coach Lataya Hillard-Gray said. "This is our first tournament win in school history and I'm very proud of them." 

No. 2 seed WV State (33-15) will play Gannon University (30-15) in an elimination game on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets fall to 3-8 in games when scoring two runs or less.

Winston-Salem State scored all three runs of the game in the first inning, and all with two outs. Daijah Chambers led off the frame with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Davis walked before a strikeout resulted in the second out in the inning.

With runners on first and second base, Alleigh Himes hit an RBI single to drive in the first run of the game for the Rams. Junior Shauntaja Dedecker followed with a double down the right field line to score two more runs for Winston-Salem State.

That would be all the runs Davis and the Rams defense would need. State would only record four hits on the game and when the Yellow Jackets did get on base, Winston-Salem State turned three double plays to not allow them to go any further. "That was really critical," WV State Mattie Best said. "When you're setting up double plays, that's a big momentum changer. Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to change it and they kept the momentum."

Freshman Emilee Walker suffered the loss pitching for State, dropping to 7-2 on the season. After the first inning, she settled in and only allowed four hits throughout the game with seven strikeouts and one walk. Paige Scruggs was the lone Yellow Jacket with multiple hits, going 2 for 3. Brookelyn Hale and Kayleigh Thompson also had hits for State.

The game marked the first time State has hosted a Regional softball game in program history. This is the second year in a row for 2nd year Head Coach Mattie Best squad advancing to the NCAA Tournament, and 5th time in the history of the program, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2018, and 2019.
 



 
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Players Mentioned

Mattie Best

#22 Mattie Best

C/INF/OF
5' 3"
Senior
R-R
Brookelyn Hale

#22 Brookelyn Hale

OF
5' 7"
Senior
L-R
Kayleigh Thompson

#25 Kayleigh Thompson

INF
5' 4"
Senior
L-R
Paige Scruggs

#3 Paige Scruggs

OF
5' 7"
Sophomore
Emilee Walker

#10 Emilee Walker

P
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mattie Best

#22 Mattie Best

5' 3"
Senior
R-R
C/INF/OF
Brookelyn Hale

#22 Brookelyn Hale

5' 7"
Senior
L-R
OF
Kayleigh Thompson

#25 Kayleigh Thompson

5' 4"
Senior
L-R
INF
Paige Scruggs

#3 Paige Scruggs

5' 7"
Sophomore
OF
Emilee Walker

#10 Emilee Walker

5' 5"
Freshman
P