SALISBURY, N.C. — Fayetteville State wasted little time asserting control of Game 1 of its doubleheader against Livingstone, erupting for 16 runs in a five‑inning victory fueled by timely power and an explosive middle innings surge on Sunday.
The Lady Broncos struck first in the opening inning when Tiara Stueck launched a three‑run home run to center field, bringing home Aniya Caldwell and Sydney Jackson to give Fayetteville State an immediate 3–0 advantage. Livingstone answered with a solo homer in the bottom half, but the Broncos quickly regained momentum in the second as Kevana Deberry helped her own cause with a solo shot to left, extending the lead to 4–1.
The game broke wide open in the top of the third inning. Fayetteville State sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on a combination of extra‑base hits, aggressive baserunning, and Livingstone miscues. After Sydney Jackson opened the inning with a double, the Broncos capitalized with a two‑run double from Onison and continued to apply pressure, highlighted by Jackson's three‑run home run to left field that pushed the margin to 12–1. Onison added to the chaos by scoring on a steal of home during the rally.
Livingstone managed to scratch across two runs in the bottom of the third, but Fayetteville State never let the energy shift. Deberry settled back into rhythm in the circle, limiting further damage while the offense stayed aggressive.
The Broncos added the finishing touches in the fifth inning when Jackson struck again, blasting her second three‑run homer of the game to cap a four‑run frame and push the score to 16–3. Jackson finished the game as the offensive centerpiece, driving in seven runs, while Stueck added three RBIs and Deberry contributed both at the plate and in the circle.
Deberry earned the win after working five innings, allowing three runs while striking out three. With the victory secured by run‑rule, Fayetteville State opened the doubleheader in dominant fashion, setting the tone for the remainder of the day against the Blue Bears.
