Spartanburg, South Carolina-Edward Waters had a strong start to play in the 2024 edition of the CIAA/SIAC Challenge on Friday afternoon as the Lady Tigers had commanding victories over both Fayetteville State, 11-1 and Claflin, 8-0 in five innings.

Edward Waters 11, Fayetteville State 1:
Edward Waters started the scoring in the top of the first inning on Kylah Gardner's RBI sacrifice that gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead. Fayetteville State tied things up in the bottom of the first on a an RBI sac fly of their own. In the top half of the second, EWU took the lead for good adding a run on Laura Scott's RBI fielder's choice to take a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third, a Brooke Rice RBI double, an Aja Acala RBI single, and a Miah Jordan RBI triple pushed the EWU lead to 5-1. Two more runs were added in the top of the fifth courtesy of a Saunders RBI double and a Scott RBI single to stretch the lead to 7-1. Acala hit her second RBi single in the top of the sixth to move the lead to 8-1, then in the top of the seventh Rice's two-RBI double, and Mhasiah Patterson's RBI triple cemented an 11-1 victory for EWU. 

Brooke Rice led EWU going 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, three RBI's, and two runs scored. In the circle, Shai-Ann Currie took the victory going 7.0 innings allowing just six hits and one earned run.

Edward Waters 8, Claflin 0:
The Lady Tigers got the scoring party started with five runs in the top of the first inning. A bases loaded walk scored Laura Scott, a Miah Jordan RBI sac fly, Gracie Mejia's two RBI double, and a Kayla Saunders RBI single gave EWU a 5-0 lead.

EWU added three more runs in the top of the fourth on Katie Goodin's RBI bunt single, Kylah Gardner's RBI single, and a Brooke Rice RBI double. The contest was halted after the bottom of the eighth via the run rule and giving the Lady Tigers the victory.

Katie Goodin finished 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Jodasea Peterson got the win going 5.0 innings, allowing just one hit, one walk, and struck out five.

The CIAA/SIAC Challenge continues for Edward Waters on Saturday with matchups against Elizabeth City State and Virginia State.

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