ALBANY, GA – The Kentucky State University softball team was on the verge of advancing to the championship game, but a four-run inning made a trip to the title game a little harder. After beating Tuskegee to begin the day, KSU fell to Spring Hill to move to the consolation bracket.

#4W KENTUCKY STATE 8, #2W TUSKEGEE 2
Kentucky State took the early lead, and turned it over to senior Paola Flores (San Lorenzo, PR) to secure the 8-2 victory.

Back-to-back two-out hits, a RBI single by freshman Olivia Saylor (Lancaster, KY) and a two-run double by sophomore Kailen Olison (Moreno Valley, CA), gave Kentucky State the 3-0 lead in the first inning.

In five innings, Flores allowed just one Tuskegee runner to reach second base and in three of the innings, the Golden Tigers went down in order. She allowed just two hits in five innings of work with two strikeouts.

A RBI single by sophomore Moana Pinner (Hilo, HI) and a two-RBI single by sophomore Sidney Campbell (Ashland, KY) gave KSU the 6-0 lead after five. Kentucky State tacked on individual runs in the sixth and seven innings.

Tuskegee prevented the shutout with a pair of runs in the seventh inning.

Senior Jackie Zubiate (Riverside, CA) was 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored, while five other players had two hits each. Olison was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, and Campbell was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Senior Jittaun Thompson (Pomona, CA) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, Pinner was 2-for-4 with an RBI and freshman Olivia Steward (Salem, IN) was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

#1W SPRING HILL 5, #4 KENTUCKY STATE 3
Kentucky State allowed four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and fell to Spring Hill, 5-3.

After not walking anyone in the first five innings, the Badgers took three walks and a hit batter, along with three hits to take the lead.

Two batters into the game, the Thorobreds had the lead thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Zubiate. Spring Hill got a run back in the bottom of the first.

Thompson pushed KSU's lead back to two with a solo homerun in the third inning, and it stayed that way until the sixth inning. Kentucky State had a couple of opportunities to stretch out its lead getting the first two runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings. However, the 'Breds didn't scratch a run across in either instance.

Senior Natalia Bocanegra (Covina, CA) was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Pinner was 2-for-3.

Flores allowed five earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work with three walks and a strikeout.

Kentucky State needs a victory 9 a.m. Saturday against Tuskegee to advance to the championship round, where it must beat Spring Hill twice.