ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Claflin University scored seven runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game and went on to take an 11-6 victory and sweep the conference softball series over Benedict on Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Tigers fall to 22-19 overall and 11-8 in the SIAC. Claflin improves to 24-15 overall and 13-2 in the SIAC.

Benedict struck first with one run in the first inning when Taylor Roberts hit a two-out RBI single. The Lady Tigers added two more runs in the top of the third for a 3-0 lead. Khayreyah Parrish brought home Brianna Billie with a double. Parrish later scored on a Claflin error.

Claflin pushed across four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Benedict tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the top of the fifth. Parrish reached on a bunt single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.

Claflin broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth on six hits and an error.

A single by Billie in the seventh, along with two errors on the same play, allowed Benedict's final two runs to score.

Benedict will play a non-conference doubleheader against Vorhees at home on Friday, starting at 1 p.m.