Sports

ASU softball in title game

• The Lady Rams will play for the chance to defend their SIAC Championship today at 3 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Scott Chancey

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Albany State’s softball team is still perfect in the conference, and can officially repeat as SIAC champion today. After beating Stillman, 18-1, and Clark Atlanta, 6-2, on Friday, the Lady Rams await an undetermined opponent in the title game at 3 p.m.

With a win today, the Lady Rams (a program-best 33-20 overall, 17-0 SIAC) will return to regionals, where they have yet to win a game. Monroe product Ta’Shelya Bynum went 4-for-4 with a homer and six RBI against Stillman and Deanna Birdsong went 3-for-3 with three RBI. Melissa Hurst was Game 1’s winning pitcher with a one-hitter five strikeouts over five innings.

Game 2’s winning pitcher, Mindy Mager, then struck out 12 batters, and Kandis Tate went 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI in the second game.

ASU BASEBALL

Albany State’s baseball team remained alive in the double-elimination tourney by beating Benedict, 8-5. Nathan Coggins went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI.

The Rams face Miles at 11 a.m. today, and the winner players Stillman at 2. If Albany State beats Miles and Stillman today, the Rams will have to beat Paine twice Sunday to win its first SIAC crown since 2006.

ASU TENNIS

The Albany State women’s tennis team finished third in the conference, and Tonya Huggins-Vire was named to the All-Tournament team. The Lady Rams beat Stillman, 5-0, in the first round. Albany State then lost to eventual champion, Tuskegee, 5-1, and Clark Atlanta forfeited the third-place match because it only had four players.

“Overall, it was a great season,” said first-year Albany State coach Khadijah Ali, whose team finished 9-13 overall and 8-6 SIAC. “I’m extremely proud of them.”

ASU TRACK

In track, Albany State’s women lead with 59 points through five events. Cherissa Brockington won the heptathlon, followed by Candice Camp and Shaneka Birdsong. Camp also won the triple jump at 40 feet, 7 1/2 inches. Estella Moore won her 100-meter heat, and Roxie Griffin won in the 200 heat (24.38), as well as the 400 heat (54.39).

Garrion Martin posted a personal best in the men’s 100 (10.31) and automatically qualified for nationals and Ronnie McGirt won the decathlon.

Westover product Eric McCrary was fourth in the decathlon, and Oladipo Adeshina won his 400 heat. The Rams also won their 4x400 heat, and Westover product Derrick Cubbage placed second in the triple jump.

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