VICKSBURG, Miss. --The Tennessee State Tiger softball team opened the season 2-0 with a 3-1 victory over the Xavier University of Louisiana and a 5-4 victory over host Jackson State University in the River City Classic in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

TSU 3 Xavier 1
TSU Freshman Caitlyn Manus struck out seven and gave up three hits in her complete-game victory over Xavier of Louisiana. With the game tied at one in the seventh inning, the Tigers scored two runs to take the lead, and Manus closed it out with a scoreless seventh inning. TSU got a home run by Ryla Traylor, and freshman Jasmine Blackburn had two RBIs.
 
TSU 5 Jackson State 4
TSU rallied with two runs in the seventh inning and took a 5-4 win over Jackson State.  Freshman Caitlyn Manus (2-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (2-0). The right-hander went three innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing three walks, and striking out one.
At the plate, TSU was paced by freshman Ryla Traylor, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a double and an RBI. Freshman Nahtali Simpson also compiled a standout performance at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Freshman Jasmine Blackburn also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
TSU got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Tennessee State scored twice on a two-run double off the bat of Simpson. Jackson State then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until Tennessee State expanded its advantage in the third. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Traylor, which brought the score to 3-1 in favor of TSU.

Jackson State came back to tie the ballgame at three before Tennessee State reclaimed a 5-3 advantage in the seventh inning. TSU scored twice, the first on an RBI single to left field by Marsha Mauroschadt that scored Onnika Spencer. Ryla Traylor scored the second run of the inning on Blackburn's single, which turned out to be a crucial insurance run. Jackson State plated one more run in the bottom of the inning, but Manus shut the door getting the final out with two runners in scoring position.

GAME NOTES
 » Traylor compiled three base knocks in the game for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh when it pushed two runs across.
» Tennessee State took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» TSU out-hit the Jackson State at 8-7.
» Tennessee State went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 33 Jackson State hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground ball and seven fly ball outs while striking out one.
» Traylor led the TSU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Jackson State was led offensively by freshman Isabel Gusman, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Freshman Takiya Hill led the Jackson State pitching staff, throwing seven innings of five-run ball.
 
TSU will be back in action on Sunday when they take on Grambling State at 10 a.m. and Alcorn State at noon.