HOOVER, Ala. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers exploded for 18 runs on 17 hits to defeat LeMoyne-Owen College 18-4 to secure their first SIAC win at the SIAC Crossover Tournament at the Hoover Met Complex on Wednesday.
 
In their other game of the day, Kentucky State took a 5-2 victory as the Thorobreds scored three runs in the final three innings.
 
Against LeMoyne-Owen, the Magicians had a 3-2 lead after two innings, but the Lady Tigers scored six runs in the third inning to take the lead and never looked back. Benedict added five more runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth.
 
T'yannah Lake and Taylor Gilbert led the offensive outburst against the Magicians. Lake had two home runs – a two-run blast in the fourth and a solo shot in the fifth - and drove in four runs. Gilbert went 4-for-4 and drove in five runs. She had a two-run triple in the third and two-run double in the fourth. She also had an RBI single in the fifth. Taylor Wilson also had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. Kayla Hunt had a pair of hits, including an RBI triple.
 
Against Kentucky State, Olivia Townsend had a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Kentucky State took the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
 
The Lady Tigers, now 3-16 overall and 1-6 in the SIAC, wrap up play at the SIAC Crossover on Thursday with games against Spring Hill and Miles.