NASHVILLE --The Tennessee State Tigers (5-1) used late-inning magic to defeat Alabama A&M 12-4 in five innings to salvage a split on the first day of the Roar City Classic. Earlier in the day, TSU fell to North Alabama in a 2-1 pitching duel.
TSUÂ 1 North Alabama 2
The Tennessee State Tigers got a boost from Laila Armstrong, who totaled three hits, but it was not enough as they fell to the North Alabama Lions 2-1 on Saturday. Sophomore Caitlyn Manus (3-1) threw a complete game and took the loss. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, both earned, on four hits, allowing two walks, and striking out seven.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 2-0, the Tigers first put a run on the board in the sixth inning. Peyton Fointno came across to score the lone run of the game. The Tigers' rally fell short with two runners in scoring position with one out in the seventh inning, with Armstrong grounding out to third and Fointno popping out to the shortstop.
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GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the sixth when it pushed one run across.
» Manus limited North Alabama to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 29 North Alabama hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out seven.
» Armstrong led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double.
» North Alabama was led offensively by Taylor Brown, who went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Emily Escobar led the Lions pitching staff, throwing six innings of one-run ball.
TSU 12 Alabama A&M 4
Jasmine Blackburn collected four RBIs to help propel the Tennessee State Tigers over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 12-4 on Saturday.
Caitlyn Manus (3-1) got the win out of the bullpen for TSU. The right-hander went 1.2 shutout innings, giving up one hit, two walks, and striking out four.
Blackburn went 2-for-4 in addition to her four RBIs for the Tigers. Laila Armstrong also furnished a standout performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a walk. Marisa Mauroschadt also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together three hits in three trips to the dish while adding two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Tennessee State scored three times, picking up one on an RBI base knock off the bat of Anayah Baker.-Rowell
The Bulldogs then rallied to score four runs and take a 4-3 lead before the Tigers got back on the board with nine total runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, the TSU offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Jordan Turner and a two-run single from Blackburn, which allowed the Tigers to take an 8-4 lead.
Tennessee State kept Alabama A&M scoreless before expanding their lead to 12-4 the following inning. The Tigers' bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Blackburn to give TSU a 12-4 five-rule victory.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State got three-hit games from both Armstrong and Mauroschadt
» Blackburn drove in four runs for Tennessee State.
» Every Tennessee State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed five runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Bulldogs at a 13-10 clip.
» Tennessee State went 6-for-10 (.600) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 31 Alabama A&M hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out five.
» The Tigers drew five walks from Alabama A&M pitching.
» Blackburn led the TSU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI.
» Alabama A&M was led offensively by Zahria Jones, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
TSU will play two more games tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. against Bradley, followed by a 4:00 p.m. matchup with Alabama A&M. Both games willl be streamed on ESPN+.
