RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 22) – Makayla August (So./Palm Springs, CA) powered Saint Augustine’s University to a 9-4 softball victory over Benedict College in the second game as the Lady Falcons split a doubleheader with Benedict College at Lions Park on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The Lady Falcons fell 8-6 to the Lady Tigers in the first game.
August collected five RBIs and scored three runs on 3-for-4 batting in the win. She crushed two home runs deep in centerfield including a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Her homer was part of a three-run fourth which gave the Lady Falcons a 7-1 lead. The first homer was a two-run shot in the first inning for a 2-0 lead. The Lady Falcons’ sophomore added a one-run single in the sixth for a 9-3 cushion after Jasmine Rios (Sr./Greensboro, NC) smacked an RBI triple.
August gained the win on the mound after scattering nine hits in seven full innings. She improved to 2-1 as a pitcher.
Tamiera Sanchez (So./Sacramento, CA) scored three runs on 2-for-2 hitting while Rios, Haley Sessoms (So./Kenansville, NC) and Haili Pettifer (Sr./Langley, British Columbia) each drove in a run. Rios, Marley Parker (Sr./Langley, British Columbia) and Chandra Mackey (Fr./Nassau, Bahamas) each scored a run for the Lady Falcons (2-2 overall), who totaled 10 hits.
In the first game, Sessoms batted 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Her one-run double helped the Lady Falcons build a 3-0 second-inning lead. The Falcons led until the sixth inning when the Lady Tigers (6-2 overall) scored five runs to go ahead 7-5. Rios hit an RBI triple in the sixth but the Lady Tigers closed out the scoring with a run in the seventh inning.
Moss added two RBIs and Pettifer had an RBI and two runs scored for the Lady Falcons, who had nine hits. Chandra Mackey (Fr./Nassau, Bahamas) was credited with an RBI. The Lady Tigers had eight hits.
The Lady Falcons are back in action Saturday, Feb. 24, in a home doubleheader against Clarion University at Lions Park. The first game begins at 12 p.m. and the second game starts at approximately 2 p.m.
Also last week, four Saint Augustine’s University student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-CIAA team. leading the conference with the most selections.
The Lady Falcons placed pitcher Makayla August (So./Palm Springs, CA), outfielder/third baseman Akera McPhaul (Sr./Greensboro, NC), utility player Marley Parker (Sr./Langley, British Columbia) and first baseman Jasmine Rios (Sr./Greensboro, NC) on the 11-player squad. They are one reason why the Lady Falcons are picked to finish second in the Southern Division and fourth overall in the conference by the CIAA softball coaches and sports information directors.
— Office of Sports Information
