ORLANDO, Fla. – The Savannah State University softball team (3-5) dropped both games Saturday at the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World.
 
The Lady Tigers fell to Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of Duke University 5-1 in the first game and fell to Big Ten Conference opponent of Purdue University 11-1.
 
Senior center fielder Brianna Harris led the team batting .429 (3-for-7), while senior second baseman Shelby Eccles and senior pitcher Amanda Hallman each batted .333 (2-for-6).
 
Duke 5, Savannah State 1
Hallman, sophomore third baseman Shayna Byers, pinch hitter Hannah Deckle and Harris each recorded a hit, while junior first baseman Elizabeth Humes scored the only run.  On the mound, junior pitcher Faith Dickerson (0-2) pitched a complete game giving up five earned runs on nine hits.
 
The first two innings went scoreless, but Duke broke the tie in the bottom of the third inning with two runs to take a 2-0 after a two-run single. 
 
The Lady Tigers cut the lead in half, 2-1, after Humes scored on a passed ball in top of the fourth inning.
 
Duke scored another run in the bottom of the fourth inning after a solo homerun to increase the lead to 3-1 and scored the final two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning after another solo homerun and an RBI double.
 
The Blue Devils were led by Rachel Abbound going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Brianna Butler (1-1) picked up the win pitching the first four innings giving up one unearned run on two hits.
 
Purdue 11, Savannah State 1
Harris led the team going 2-for-4 at the plate and scored the only run, while Eccles went 2-for-3 and Deckle recorded the only RBI.
 
Purdue started the game scoring one run in the top of the first inning after an RBI single and left the bases loaded to take a 1-0 lead. 
 
Savannah State tied the score at one in the bottom half of the inning after Deckle hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive home Harris.
 
The Boilermakers took the lead in the top of the fourth inning, 3-1, with two runs, after an RBI triple and an RBI single and increase the lead to 8-1 after scoring five runs in the fifth inning after an RBI double, a sacrifice fly, a two-run double and an RBI single.
 
Purdue scored the final three runs in the seventh inning after a three-run homerun to left field.
 
The Boilermakers were led by Mallory Baker going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs and Emily Kenny went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.  On the mound, Kaitlynn Moody (2-5) picked up the win pitching a complete game giving up a run on six hits.
 
The final day of the classic is Sunday against the Czech Republic at 11:30 a.m.
 
Duke 5, Savannah State 1 (Feb 24, 2018 at Orlando, Fla.)
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Savannah State...... 000 100 0 -  1  4  1      (3-4)
Duke................ 002 120 X -  5  9  0      (8-4)
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Pitchers: Savannah State - DICKERSON, Faith and CYRUS, Kelsey. Duke - B. Butler; A. Wiercioch(5)
and J. Moreno.
Win-B. Butler(1-1)  Loss-DICKERSON, Faith(0-2)  T-1:45  A-0
HR DU - R. Abboud.
Weather: 76 degrees, mostly sunny
 
Purdue 11, Savannah State 1 (Feb 24, 2018 at Orlando, Fla.)
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Purdue.............. 100 250 3 - 11 16  2      (2-10)
Savannah State...... 100 000 0 -  1  6  1      (3-5)
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Pitchers: Purdue - Moody, K. and Binckes, A.. Savannah State - HALLMAN, Amanda;
DECKLE, Hannah(5) and CYRUS, Kelsey.
Win-Moody, K.(2-5)  Loss-HALLMAN, Amanda(2-3)  T-2:24  A-237
HR PURDUE - Binckes, A..
Weather: 78, Cloudy
 
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