LADY RATTLERS ADVANCE IN MEAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT Sahar Abdur-Rashid 05/13/10 Ormond Beach, Fla., May 13, 2010- Florida A&M advanced to the quarterfinal of the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship with a win over No. 2 seed Delaware State 6-1, at the Ormond Beach Softball Complex. FAMU (228-22) belted out game high 10-hits, while DSU (27-18) only managed three. Melissa Oliphant, a First-Team All-MEAC selection paced FAMU as she went three-for-three from the plate scoring four runs. The Lady Hornets were led by the 2010 MEAC Player of the Year Jordon Reid who was two-for- three from the plate scoring a run. First-Team All-MEAC selection Amanda Reyes (19-12) picked up the win for the Lady Rattlers as she gave up one hit, one earned run and striking 10 in seven innings on the mound. Andrea Waters (11-8) received the loss for the Lady Hornets allowing 10 hits, six earned runs and striking out two in six and two-thirds innings. FAMU grabbed the lead in the top of the first as Courtney Harold scored on a Tenisha Dixon single, followed by an Erika Garcia single scoring Oliphant, gave FAMU a 2-0 lead. Oliphant added to the Lady Rattlers’ lead in the top of the first as she scored on an Arianna Stewart sacrifice fly to right field, giving FAMU a 3-0 advantage. DSU scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the third as Tawny Reeger doubled to centerfield scoring Jordon Reid, cutting FAMU’s lead to 3-1. The Lady Ratters picked up another run in the top of the fifth as Dixon doubled to left field scoring Oliphant, making the score 4-1 in favor of the Lady Rattlers. Erika Garcia scored FAMU’s final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh as she doubled to right field scoring both Dixon and Oliphant for the 6-1 final. The Lady Rattlers will now face Bethune-Cookman in the MEAC Softball Tourney quarterfinal round in a rematch of the last year’s championship game at 7 p.m. Admission for the 2010 MEAC Softball Championship is $5 for youth, students and seniors. Discounted ticket packages for all three days can be purchased for $12. Tickets are available at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex beginning on Thursday, May 13.