Custom Search Hampton, GA—Albany State University has won the 2013 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship by unseating defending champion Miles (15-9, 17-9) in a two game sweep at the Gerald Mathews Sports Complex in Hampton, GA.
After losing its first game in the second round to Fort Valley State University, Albany State rallied to win seven consecutive games, including three Sunday over Stillman (1-0) and Miles to claim its first tile since 2009 and fourth overall.
With a commanding 5-4 lead and its top pitcher on the mound, it looked as if Miles was on the verge of repeating as conference champions, until Albany State responded with a knockout blow.
Sparked by homeruns by Chaconna Marks, Chelsea Hicks and Cierra Gaines, Albany State regained the lead and momentum by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the six inning on route to the win.
In game two, the slugfest continued as Albany State used the long ball, coupled by a few errors by Miles to take a 8-3 lead within the first three innings. The comfortable lead is all Albany State needed, as the team’s ace Alexia Lopes brought the heat from the mound. Lopes, who won five games to help Albany State return to the title game kept the Lady Bears big bats silent throughout the game.
While Miles bats were mute, Albany State’s had its aluminum on blast. The team would add nine more runs, using the long ball.
Marks, Lopes, and Gaines were named to the Softball All-Tournament team and were joined by Mile’s pitcher Amanda Talley