ELIZABETH CITY, NC -- Sophomore Nataya Truitt and senior Regina DeDecker each racked up three hits to help lead the Shaw Lady Bears past the Saint Augustine's Lady Falcons 12-2 Saturday on the final day of the CIAA Roundup.
In an earlier game Saturday, the Lady Bears lost to Fayetteville State 8-6. Shaw finished with a 3-3 mark at the CIAA Roundup.
Freshman Syhia Marks (2-6) got the win for Shaw (3-3 CIAA, 3-12 Overall). The right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits, allowing three walks and striking out five.
In addition to her three hits, Truitt had two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Lady Bears. DeDecker added a double and a walk to her three-hit performance as well. Sophomore D'Amani Gadson also chipped in for Shaw, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAINT AUGUSTINE'S
The Lady Bears got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Shaw managed to push across two runs in the inning.
After the Lady Falcons rallied to tie the ballgame at 2-2, the Lady Bears came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Shaw scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Gadson, which brought the Lady Bears lead to 3-2.
Shaw held Saint Augustine's without a run before building its lead to 6-2 the following inning. The Lady Bears picked up three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run single off the bat of sophomore Sas'Kia Stephens.
Shaw held the Lady Falcons without a run before its offense got in gear the next inning. The Lady Bears scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of freshman Olivia Ankrom, bringing the score to 12-2 in favor of Shaw. The score remained 12-2 for the rest of the game, as the Lady Bears coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES VS. SAINT AUGUSTINE'S
» Shaw got three-hit games from both Truitt and DeDecker.
» Marks struck out five Lady Falcons hitters.
» The Lady Bears power output was led by Truitt, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Shaw grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Lady Bears had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Lady Bears out-hit the Lady Falcons 14-3.
» Shaw went 9-for-16 (.563) with runners in scoring position.
» Shaw pitchers limited Saint Augustine's to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Shaw pitchers faced 21 Saint Augustine's hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and two fly balls while striking out five.
» Truitt led the Lady Bears at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. FAYETTEVILLE STATE
Offensively, the Lady Bears were paced by senior Regina DeDecker, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Junior Bri'Anna Chavis put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Freshman Olivia Ankrom also contributed for Shaw, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and two RBIs.
The Lady Bears got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Shaw's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Ankrom and a two-run double from Chavis.
The Lady Bears then held the Broncos scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Shaw picked up a run on DeDecker's leadoff home run, which brought the Lady Bears lead to 6-0. The Lady Bears were unable to hold the lead, as Fayetteville State scored eight times over the remaining five innings to grab the 8-6 win.
Sophomore D'Amani Gadson (0-6) started and took the loss in the circle for Shaw.
GAME NOTES VS. FAYETTEVILLE STATE
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed five runs across.
» The Lady Bears out-hit the Broncos 7-6.
» Shaw went 4-for-10 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Shaw pitchers faced 33 Fayetteville State hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out six.
» DeDecker led the Lady Bears at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears are back in action next weekend with a two-day road swing in Virginia. They visit Virginia Union on Saturday, April 1, and Virginia State on Sunday, April 2. Both doubleheaders begin at 12 p.m.
