By Edythe Bradley
With the score tied at four in the bottom of the seventh inning, Albany State University senior Deanna Birdsong hit a walk-off home run on a 1-2 count to lead the top-seeded Lady Rams to a 6-4 victory over No. 2 Fort Valley State University in the championship game of the 2010 SIAC softball championship tournament Saturday afternoon. It was the the fifth home run for the second baseman, who went 1-for-4 with two RBI in the victory at South Commons Softball Park in Columbus, Ga. The win gave Albany State its fourth conference title in six years for head coach Robert Skinner.
“Fort Valley played hard. They came to win,” Skinner said. “I told the girls to stay focused and keep their eyes on the prize.”
The Lady Wildcats got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Jazmine McDaniel scored off Jessica Buchanan’s sacrifice fly to centerfield. Later in the fourth inning, Fort Valley’s Aniah Usher flied out to center field, scoring an unearned run for Tawanna Barker.
After the Rams were scoreless for three innings, ASU senior pitcher Sasha Reece decided she’d had enough. Reece homered to left field to score for the Lady Rams in the bottom of the fourth inning. Reece went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs. The Lady Rams scored again in the fifth to tie the score at two points each on an RBI double to left field by Reece, scoring Ta’Shelya Bynum.
Fort Valley took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Barker scored on an RBI single by Buchanan. But that lead didn’t last long. Reece doubled to left field, scoring Ta’Shelya Bynum to tie the score at three. The Lady Rams took the 4-3 lead after Adrienne Morris scored off an RBI single by Kandis Banks. Ronkeya Garner scored on a balk by Reece, tying the score at four for the Lady ‘Cats. The Lady Rams sealed the victory with Birdsong’s homerun.
Reece pitched all seven innings, giving up eight hits to the Lady Wildcats. She struck out three and walked two. She and four other Lady Rams were named to the 2010 SIAC All-Tournament Softball Team for her outstanding performances tournament.
Named the tournament’s most valuable player, Reece pitched three games for a 1.17 ERA. She struck out 15 batters and walked only three in 18 inning for the Lady Rams. She batted .571. Other Lady Rams named to the team were Catcher Staci Cauthen, shortstop Ta’Shelya Bynum and designated hitter Allyssa Spellman.
Skinner was named the most outstanding coach after leading his Lady Rams to a 4-0 finish in the tournament.
The Lady Rams will represent the SIAC in the NCAA Division II South Region playoffs in May.
