Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State softball team swept opening day with two victories over HBCU opponents in the River City Classic.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game One):
Final: Tennessee State 1 (W: Raven Loveless, 1-0), Grambling State 0 (L: Dacia Richard, 0-1)
Records: Tennessee State Tigers (1-0, 0-0 OVC), Grambling State Tigers (0-1, 0-0 SWAC)
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Follow Us: @TNStateSoftball on Twitter, @TSUTigersSB on Instagram.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 1ST: To lead off the game, in her first collegiate at-bat, Jasmine Brown slapped a double along the left field line. On the following play, Lauren Farias dropped down a bunt single and Brown scored from second on the play. || TSU, 1-0
 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• Raven Loveless started in the circle for TSU; the senior tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout and struck out two.
• Jasmine Brown, in her collegiate debut, was the offensive player of the game as she went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.
• Brown was the only player to log multiple hits and scored the lone run of the contest.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• In 2021, Loveless tossed nine complete games and did not have a CG shutout. It was the third CG shutout of her career (4/6/19 v. Eastern Kentucky, 4/26/19 v. SIUE).
• Tennessee State won their season opener for the first time since 2017.
• TSU's defeated Grambling in four straight meetings, outscoring GSU by a sizable margin, 23-10.

 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP (Game Two):
Final: Tennessee State 8 (W: Francys King, 1-0), Alcorn State 3 (L: Lexi Veamoi, 0-1)
Records: Tennessee State Tigers (2-0, 0-0 OVC), Alcorn State Braves (2-1, 0-0 SWAC)
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Follow Us: @TNStateSoftball on Twitter, @TSUTigersSB on Instagram.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
TOP 3RD: After a strikeout to begin the inning, Lauren Farias reached on a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers took an early lead on a throwing error by Alcorn State's shortstop. || TSU, 1-0
 
BOT 7TH: The Braves started the inning with a free-pass and followed up with a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. The No. 8 hitter, Miracle Crosby, tied the game on an RBI single. || TIED 1-1
 
TOP 9TH: Tennessee State kick-started the ninth inning with a single from Kayli Mothershed after a lengthy at-bat. Mothershed advanced to second after Peyton Fointno was plunked by a pitch. After a fielder's choice and a strikeout, Ivory Jones walked to load the bases. Farias came through in the clutch with two outs, the senior laced a two-run double to give TSU a crunch-time lead. Jasmine Brown sliced a two-RBI double to left field to extend the advantage to four, 5-1. After Meaghan Lewis reached base, Anayah Baker belted a three-run home run to give the Tigers a comfortable lead. || TSU, 8-1
 
BOT 9TH: Alcorn State responded with a walk to begin the bottom half of the ninth. The Braves scored a run on a fielding error by TSU's shortstop, Farias. With two runners on, Desirea Lindsey poked an RBI single into center to trim the deficit. || TSU 8-3

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Francys King started in the circle for TSU; the sophomore went eight innings, allowed one run on eight hits, walked two and struck out seven.
• Lauren Farias tallied the first run of the game and drove in the go-ahead run. The senior went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
• In her first start of the season, Kayli Mothershed went 3-for-5, including a lengthy at-bat to jump-start the ninth inning.
• TSU had three players register multiple RBI in the contest (Baker 3, Brown 2, Farias 2).

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• True freshman, Jasmine Brown, recorded multiple hits in consecutive games.
• For the first time since 2012, the Tigers have won their first two games of the season.
• TSU's defeated Alcorn State in four straight meetings, outscoring the Braves by a wide margin, 28-10.
• After going hitless in game one, Anayah Baker launched a three-run bomb for her fourth career home run.

UP NEXT: Tennessee State will continue its opening weekend with a two-game set against Jackson State and Grambling State tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:15pm, with game two following about 30 minutes after.