GAME 1 | Fayetteville State 11, Saint Augustine's 1
FAYETTEVILLE, NC --Junior M'Smrya Seward collected four RBIs to help propel the Fayetteville State Broncos past the Saint Augustine's Falcons 11-1 on Saturday. Prior to the game, the Broncos celebrated two of their seniors, Grace Vincent and Mikayla Jackson with a small ceremony.
Sophomore Kyra Mitchell (5-1) started in the circle and picked up the win for Fayetteville State (14-15, 9-4). The right-hander went five innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out five.
Seward went 2-for-4 with a home run in addition to her four RBIs for the Broncos. Mitchell put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Sophomore BreAnna Steele also helped out for Fayetteville State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Broncos got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Fayetteville State got an RBI single from Mitchell, scoring senior Angel Johnson from second base.
The Broncos then held the Falcons scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Fayetteville State scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Seward, scoring freshman Olivia Jackson and Steele, which brought the Broncos lead to 4-0.
Saint Augustine's narrowed Fayetteville State's lead to 4-1 before the Broncos stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the third inning. The Broncos bats heated up in the inning, scoring five runs, including a three-run single off the bat of Steele.
Fayetteville State held the Falcons scoreless before their offense got things rolling the next inning. Senior Grace Vincent and Mitchell came in to score the two Broncos runs in the frame, bringing the score to 11-1 in favor of Fayetteville State. The score remained 11-1 for the rest of the game, as the Broncos coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Fayetteville State got three-hit games from both Jackson and Mitchell.
» Mitchell struck out five Falcons hitters.
» Seward drove in four runs for Fayetteville State.
» Every Fayetteville State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Fayetteville State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed five runs across.
» Fayetteville State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Four Broncos had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Broncos out-hit the Falcons at a 14-4 clip.
» Fayetteville State went 7-for-12 (.583) with runners in scoring position.
» Fayetteville State pitchers faced 20 Saint Augustine's hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and five fly balls while striking out five.
» Seward led the Broncos at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
» Saint Augustine's was led offensively by freshman Deanta' Colebrooke, who went 1-for-2.
» Freshman Madison Poston led the Falcons pitching staff, throwing four innings of 11-run ball.
