March 5, 2006

Baton Rouge, LA -- The Southern University Lady Jaguars softball team swept the Prairie View A&M University Lady Panthers in their first Southwestern Athletic Conference four-game series. On Friday, March 3rd the Blue and Gold won games one and two 3-2 and 3-0. Then on today, March 4th the Lady Jaguars pulled off games three and four 4-2 and 5-1.

"The team has been performing very well after playing some pretty tough non-conference opponents," said head coach Nancy Marshall. Our hitting needs to be better in order for us to continue to win."

Southern (7-9, 4-0) combined for 28 of 100 hitting for a batting average of .280 for the weekend. SU scored 15 runs, hit five doubles, two triples and recorded 10 RBI's. The slugging percentage was .370 while they combined for eight walks and 17 stolen bases. There were 84 put outs 38 assists and 3 errors for a fielding percentage of .976. The Lady Jaguars pitching staff finished the series with a perfect 4-0 record. They also recorded 14 strike outs and allowed only five runs off of 23 hits for a 1.29 era.

In game one, lead off, Brittany Richardson scored to put the Lady Jaguars up 1-0. They then put another run on board in the bottom of the sixth inning to up the score 2-0. Prairie View decided not to lay down as they battled back tying the score 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning the first three batters for SU got on base, Then freshmen, Deanen Woods grounded out to the pitcher scoring Richardson to win the first of four games for Southern.

Senior Jayme Roberts picked up the win while senior Jamila Taylor grabbed a save for coming in the bottom of the sixth inning to halt the scoring by the Lady Panthers.

In game two the Lady Jags dominated PV as they scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth then added one in the sixth to take a 3-0 victory. Sophomore Courtney Chappell went 1 of 3 with one RBI. Senior Samisha Bledsoe, junior Candice Stevens, and the pitcher Jamila Taylor all scored a run. Taylor also picked up the victory after allowing two hits while seeing 25 batters.

On Saturday, March 4th SU jumped out with a 3-0 lead after scoring one run in the bottom of the first and two in the second. The Lady Panthers managed to get a run in the top of the sixth inning but SU added another run during their turn at bat in the same inning. Prairie View put a run on the board but the Lady Jaguars were able to get the third out before PV could do any more damage. SU took game three 4-2. Pitcher Samisha Bledsoe improved her win-loss total to 2-2 after recording the win. Bledsoe struck out three and allowed eight hits off of 32 batters faced.

The final game of the series was no different as the Blue and Gold jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. PV was not going to go back to the Texas without a win as they put a run on the board in the top of the third. Southern had other ideas as they added two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead, the game and the series. Catcher Brittany Richardson completed the game 2 of 3 with 2 runs. Second basemen Denean Woods also scored two runs. Right fielder Samisha Bledsoe ended the game with one run. Stevens recorded two RBI's while Taylor had one run batted in. Freshman pitcher Lauren Dodd picked up her first win of the season.

"We played well during this series but we could have done better," said Marshall. "We will improve on the areas we need to get better in."

Southern will travel to Jackson, MS on Tuesday, March 7th to play Jackson State University. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.