SALISBURY, N.C. — The Livingstone College softball team earned a dominant doubleheader sweep over Voorhees University on Tuesday afternoon, taking game one 8–1 before rallying for a thrilling 8–7 comeback victory in game two at the Jaycee Optimist Sports Complex.
Game One: Livingstone 8, Voorhees 1
Livingstone set the tone early in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning.
Natayah Abdul-Hakim crossed home plate on a steal of home, followed shortly by
Rylee Watson scoring on a wild pitch to give the Lady Blue Bears a quick 2–0 advantage.
Voorhees cut the lead to 2–1 in the third inning, but Livingstone responded immediately with a decisive offensive surge. Watson delivered a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the third, scoring Abdul-Hakim and Alyse Hoke to extend the lead to 5–1.
The Lady Blue Bears added the finishing touches in the sixth inning when Abdul-Hakim launched a three-run home run to center field, scoring
Makaylah Sutton and
Dayjah Jones to cap the scoring.
Livingstone totaled nine hits in the game, led by Abdul-Hakim who finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Watson added two hits and three RBIs.
In the circle,
Lanise Pates earned the win, tossing a complete seven innings while allowing just three hits and one run, striking out four in a strong performance.
Game Two: Livingstone 8, Voorhees 7
Game two delivered all the drama, as Livingstone overcame a five-run deficit to secure the sweep in walk-off style.
The Lady Blue Bears struck first in the opening inning when
Valeria Rolon singled to center field to score Abdul-Hakim. After trades of runs early, Voorhees used a four-run fifth inning to build a commanding 7–2 lead.
Livingstone began chipping away in the bottom of the fifth.
Alyse Stokes doubled to center field to bring home Rolon, then later scored on a Voorhees error to slim the deficit to 7–4.
Trailing by three heading into the sixth, the Lady Blue Bears mounted an unforgettable comeback.
Dayjah Jones tripled to center field to score a run, bringing Livingstone within two. Moments later, Watson delivered the decisive blow with a bases-loaded double, clearing the bases and igniting the comeback as Livingstone surged ahead 8–7.
Lanise Pates returned to the circle in relief and sealed the victory, closing out the final outs to earn her second win of the day. Watson finished game two with three RBIs, while
Dayjah Jones went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Livingstone tallied 11 hits in the comeback victory.
The Lady Blue Bears now shift their focus to the road, traveling Friday, April 10, to take on Claflin University in a doubleheader scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
