NCAA Div II Softball South Regional:
Albany State falls to Valdosta State, 12-3

May 10, 2007

VALDOSTA, Ga. -- Robin Williams hit a pair of home runs to lead top-seeded Valdosta State to an 12-3 victory over eighth-seeded Albany State in the fourth game of the NCAA Softball South Regional Tournament Thursday evening at VSU Softball Complex.

VSU (47-7) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, in large part due to the speed of lead off hitter Telicia Ramsey. Ramsey singled to open the inning and stole second before moving to third on a ground out by Alex Acosta. The throw by Djara Grays back to the mound got by ASU starter Melissa Hurst, allowing Ramsey to come home for a 1-0 Blazer lead.

The Blazers upped their lead to 4-0 in the third. With one out, Ramsey walked and moved to second as Acosta followed with a free pass. Robin Williams proceeded to hit her 13th home run of the season, a shot over the wall in centerfield.

VSU continued to add to its lead in the fourth as it plated three more runs. Sam Cleland singled to open the inning and moved to second as Chantrele Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt. Edwards also reached safely on the play on a throwing error by pitcher Mindy Mager before a Kelsey Case fielder's choice erased Cleland at third. Rebecca Aszman's base hit plated Edwards, with Asman advancing to second on the play as the throw went to the plate. Audrey Massingill followed with a single to right that drove in both base runners for a 7-0 Blazer lead.

Albany State (30-36) got on the board with three runs in the top of the fifth. After a pair of strikeouts to open the inning, Grays reached on an error by Acosta at short. Dominique Johnson followed with a walk, prompting the Golden Rams to lift Grays for pinch runner Deanna Birdsong. Pinch-hitter Danielle Dawsey hit an infield single to load the bases before Mager also singled to drive in Birdsong. Tiffany Peterson's single drove in Johnson and Dawsey to slice the ASU deficit to 7-3.

Williams led off the bottom of the fifth with her second homer of the day, a shot off the foul pole down the left field line, to push the VSU lead back to 8-3.

VSU scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game. With one out, Kristina Ely pinch hit and singled. Ramsey followed with a fielder's choice, but the throw by ASU first baseman Johnson pulled Peterson off the bag at second, allowing Ely to reach safely. Aszman reentered the game to run for Ely and advanced a base along with Ramsey as Massingill reached on a fielding error by Ta' Sheyla Bynum at short. Acosta followed with her 12th home run, a grand slam over the left field wall to invoke the run-rule.

Ashley Hill started for Valdosta State and struck out 12 while giving up four hits and three runs, none of which were earned, to improve 7-1. Williams finished with two hits and four runs batted in in three at-bats while Ramsey, Massingill, Acosta, Amy Gaiss, Cleland, Asman and Ely finished with one hit each.

Melissa Hurst surrendered four hits and three runs in three innings to fall to 8-12. Mager, Peterson, Johnson and Dawsey finished with a hit each for the Golden Rams.

"Valdosta State has an extremely disciplined offensive attack and their just isn't a whole lot you can do to stop their power," said ASU coach Robert Skinner. "I thought our pitchers placed the ball well, they just hit it where we put it. We made some errors that allowed their big guns to get to the plate and you just can't do that against a team like VSU."

Valdosta State moves into Friday's winner's bracket and will play the fourth-seeded Florida Southern at 6:30 p.m. Albany State will play Arkansas-Monticello at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

-Courtesy Valdosta State

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