COLUMBIA, S.C. – Albany State hit eight home runs and powered their way to a doubleheader sweep over Benedict College in a SIAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.

Albany State used a five-run fifth inning to take a 12-9 victory in the first game. The Lady Golden Rams pushed across 16 runs in the fourth inning of the second game to take a 30-10 victory in five innings. Benedict falls to 10-4 overall and 0-2 in the SIAC. Albany State improves to 5-13 overall and 2-0 in the SIAC.

Sharik Woods went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the first game, while Amari Lawson went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.

Benedict tied the contest at 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning on an Albany State error. The Lady Golden Rams hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, then pushed across five more runs in the fifth inning for an 11-4 lead. Benedict cut the lead to 11-9 in the sixth inning when Woods hit a two-run double.

In the second game, Benedict took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by Tandreanna Conyers and a RBI single by De'Maya Davis. Albany State added three runs in the second inning, and the Lady Tigers tied the game at 5-5 when Starkeira Daniel drove home a run with a single.

Albany State scored three runs in the third inning, getting a two-run homer, then exploded for 16 runs in the fourth inning. The Lady Golden Rams sent 19 batters to the plate, getting six hits, two of those home runs, and Benedict's pitchers walked seven batters in the inning, and the Lady Tigers committed five errors.

Daniel went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Erika Dargan and Brianna Billie went 2-for-3 with one RBI each. Khayreyah Parrish went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Benedict and Albany State are scheduled to play the third game in their conference series on Sunday at 1 p.m., weather permitting.