GAME 1: North Alabama 10, Tennessee State 2 (5)
GAME 2: North Alabama 6, Tennessee State 3
RECORDS: TSU (0-2), UNA (3-2)
FIELD: Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium
LOCATION: Florence, Ala.
WEATHER: Sunny, 56
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FLORENCE, Ala. --- The Tennessee State softball team opened the 2021 season by dropping both ends of a double header to North Alabama. The Tigers took to the field for the first time in over 11 months, falling 10-2 in five innings and 6-3.
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Bri Vire,
Renae Spears and
Ivory Jones collected three hits a piece on the day to pace TSU. Jones hit her first career home run and drove in three runs, while Spears enjoyed her Big Blue debut finishing 3-for-5 at the plate.
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The Tigers struggled defensively on the day, committing six errors leading to eight unearned runs in game one and two more in the night cap leading to three unearned scores.
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Game one starter,
Lauren Powell surrendered five runs through three innings before giving up a hit. The sixth-year senior tossed 3.2 innings and was touched for 10 runs, two earned, on four hits and three walks.
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In game two,
Raven Loveless gave up six runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks. Both Powell and Loveless were tagged with losses on the day.
GAME 1
- The Lions took advantage of two Tiger errors in the first and three in the second to take a 5-0 advantage.
- Renae Spears led off the third with the teams first hit of the season.
- Two batters later, Bri Vire ripped a double down the third base line to plate Spears, cutting the score to 5-1.
- Starter Lauren Powell did not surrender a hit until the fourth, as the Lions scored five runs on four hits and a costly error in the frame.
- Spears opened the fifth inning with her second hit of the game and moved to second on a ground out by Vire.
- Meaghan Lewis entered to run for Spears and scored on an RBI single by Ivory Jones.
- Powell suffered the loss and fell to 0-1.
- Francys King entered the circle in the fourth inning to get the final out.
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GAME 2
- UNA scored three runs in the second inning off four hits and a Tiger error to take the early lead.
- TSU tried to battle back in the third as Marisa Mauroschadt led off with a walk and Vire picked up a two-out single, only to be left stranded.
- After the Lions extended their lead to 4-0, the Tigers answered in the top of the fourth as Jones hammered a solo home run to left center.
- Jones struck again in the fifth with an RBI single chasing home Anayah Baker who reached on a one-out single.
- The Tigers cut the Lions lead to one with three consecutive base runners in the sixth.
- Spears singled after a Peyton Fointno walk to open the frame.
- Mauroschadt delivered an RBI single to bring home Fointno, making the score 4-3.
- With TSU not be able to even the score, the Lions took advantage by adding two runs on two hits and an error.
- Raven Loveless (0-1) tossed all six innings for the Tigers and was charged with the loss.
UP NEXT:
The Tigers will close out the three game series with the Lions on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.
NOTES:
- The Tigers wore their blue jerseys with white pants and blue socks.
- TSU played for the first time in 348 days.
- Lauren Powell appeared in her 99th game in the circle, tying Caitlin Eaton for fourth all time in program history.
- Ivory Jones, Rayne Gray, and Anayah Baker-Rowell each registered their first collegiate hits.
- Jones finished with three hits during the twin bill, including her first collegiate home run.
- Transfer Renae Spears collected her first hit as a Tiger, finishing with three on the day.
- Meaghan Lewis scored in her first collegiate game.
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