Orangeburg, S.C., -- The Edward Waters softball team racked up two wins over Fayetteville State and Bluefield State in the HBCU Softball Challenge over the weekend in Orangeburg, S.C.
The Lady Tigers were originally supposed to play six games in total in the tournament but the final two days were canceled due to inclement weather.

In the opening game of the weekend, EWU opened play against the Fayetteville State Broncos. Both teams were strong in the circle on Friday, but the Lady Tigers defeated the Broncos 2-1. Shai-Ann Currie started the game for EWU and recorded 20 outs.A single by Victoria Miterko put Edward Waters on the board in the top of the second.

Currie earned the win for the Lady Tigers. The hurler gave up six hits and one run over six and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking two. Tamarah Lowery lost to the loss for FSU Broncos. The starter went six innings, surrendering two runs (zero earned) on five hits, striking out two and walking one. Keivana Durand collected the save. Her first save of the season.

Miterko led EWU with two runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup. The first baseman went 2-for-3 on the day. Hailey Vela and Miterko each collected two hits for Edward Waters. The Lady Tigers didn't commit a single error in the field. Kaylah Newman had the most chances in the field with five.

In the second game of the evening, Edward Waters beat Bluefield State, 14-13 after taking the lead late in the game. The game was tied at 13 in the top of the seventh when Kylah Gardner singled, scoring one run.
Brooke Rice collected three hits in four at bats in the win. Rice singled in the third inning, doubled in the sixth inning, and singled in the seventh inning.

EWU got on the board in the top of the first inning after Kaylah Newman doubled to right field, Bluefield State committed two errors, and each scoring one run. Bluefield State jumped into the lead at the bottom of the second when Lexi Shadowens doubled, scoring two runs, and one run scored on another play.

Edward Waters flipped the game on their head in the top of the third, scoring six runs on four hits to take the lead, 9-4. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Hailey Vela on a 0-2 count that drove in two.

Bluefield State scored seven runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. An error scored one run, Madison Roland doubled, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Paige Whittington tripled, scoring three runs, and Roland doubled, scoring one run.

Riley Kapparis earned the win for the Lady Tigers. The starting pitcher gave up 13 hits and 13 runs (six earned) over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. Taylor Fells took the loss for Bluefield State. The hurler went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two. Jackie Sandy opened the game for Bluefield State. The starting pitcher surrendered eight hits and 11 runs (seven earned) over three innings, striking out one and walking one.
 
EWU tallied 14 hits in the game. Vela provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led the Lady Tigers with three runs batted in. The shortstop went 1-for-4 on the day. Newman and Rice each collected three hits for Edward Waters. Gardner and Joy Duncan each collected multiple hits for EWU. Edward Waters stole three bases in the game.
 
Bluefield State finished with 13 hits in the game. Roland drove the middle of the lineup, leading BSU with four runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 3-for-4 on the day. Leadoff hitter Whittington led Bluefield State with four hits in five at bats. Shadowens collected two hits for Bluefield State in five at bats. Whittington stole two bases. Bluefield State turned one double play in the game.

The Lady Tigers will return to action with a DII South Regional doubleheader against South Carolina Beaufort on Thursday, February 20 at Fort Family Park in Jacksonville.

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