ITTA BENA, Ms. — The FAMU Women’s Softball Team ended an early season slide with two wins here Saturday in the Mississippi Valley State Legends Classic at the MVSU Softball Field.
FAMU 9, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 3
The Rattlers won their first game of the season Saturday morning, unleashing a 10-hit attack on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, led by freshman Melkayla Irvis, who had two hits, two runs scored and four RBIs, on a double and a home run.
UAPB (1-13) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, then FAMU grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on Irvis’ first collegiate homer, which drove in Jamesia Stoudemire, who reached on an error.
The Lions pushed across single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to regain the lead, 3-2, before FAMU took control with a five-run fifth inning, using six hits to do the damage.
Stoudemire got things started with an RBI double, tying the score at 3-3. She was followed later by Irvis, who lashed a two-run double, putting FAMU ahead for good at 5-3. Kyaira Brown’s fielder’s choice grounder drove in another run for a 6-3 score, then Hera Varmah socked an RBI triple for a 7-3 edge.
In the top of the seventh, FAMU capped the game’s scoring thanks to a two-run homer by Kyaira Brown.
Aiding Irvis in driving FAMU’s 10-hit offensive parade, were Brown with a hit, two runs scored and three RBIs, Alexis Blasingane with two hits and a run scored, Hera Varmah, who added a hit and an RBI, Brandice Boatwright, who had two hits and a run scored, and Stoudemire, who had a hit, and RBI, with two runs scored.
Freshman pitcher Nadia Zenteno (1-3) got the win, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs, with two walks and two strikeouts in seven full innings.
FAMU 2, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 1
The Rattlers won their second game, 2-1 over Mississippi Valley Saturday afternoon, scored both their runs in the fifth inning, on two of their three hits in the game.
MVSU scored first, tallying a run in the bottom of the first inning, and that lead held up until the top of the fifth, when MelKayla Irvis hit an RBI single, scoring Hera Varmah, who was hit by a pitch. Stoudemire scored right after on an errant throw for a 2-1 lead.
Irvis, Stoudemire and Destiny Cuevas had FAMU’s three hits in the second game, while Kyaira Brown (1-0) got the win in her first start of the season, working into the seventh, allowing six hits, one run, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Nadia Zenteno came on to get the final out, picking up a save.
WHO’S ON DECK: FAMU will close the MVSU Legends event Sunday at 12 noon against Tennessee State.
