KENNESAW, Ga. – The South Carolina State University softball team opened the 2017 season this past weekend by competing in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament hosted by Kennesaw State University on Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs opened tournament play on Friday with losses to Morehead State (15-2) and host KSU (14-0). On Saturday, SC State fell 12-2 to Austin Peay State and 10-4 to the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

SC State's (0-4) two runs against Morehead State came on a two-run home run by Deanna Sullivan in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Lady Bulldogs' runs in the Austin Peay game came when Ricary Holloman scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the second inning and when Unique Whitehurst scored on Jada Richardson's RBI in the third.

In the tournament finale against UM-St. Louis, a three-run homer by Kaneisha Pettiford in the second put SC State up 3-2. The Lady Bulldogs tacked on one more run in the third on an RBI single to centerfield by Quiana Hodge that scored Tamaya McQueary.

SC State led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, but St. Louis posted four runs in the frame to take the lead for good.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action this coming weekend in the Osprey Invitational hosted by the University of North Florida. They play South Dakota State (9 a.m.) and Georgia State (11:30 a.m.) on Friday and Eastern Illinois (9 a.m.) and Kansas State (11:30 a.m.) on Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs conclude tournament play in a single game against host UNF at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.