ATLANTA, Ga. — The Tennessee State University Tigers softball team (6-3) are headed to Atlanta for the second leg of their 15 straight games away from home. Starting Friday, they will participate in five games in three days at the Georgia State University Panther Invitational. On Wednesday, the Tigers came up short in nine innings to the Chattanooga Mocs 3-2. They now look to get back on track during the invitational.
 
"We put this tough preseason schedule together to help us to get better before the conference starts," said Tiger head coach Genee McRath. "I like how we have fought so far, so I am excited about playing against tough competition. The Atlanta trip will be a test for us; I am excited to see how this plays out."
 
Freshman hurler Holly Ayala took the hard-luck loss against Chattanooga, giving up three unearned runs in the complete game performance. Ayala struck out four and didn't give up a walk. The Tigers struck first, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning on got an RBI single from Traylor, scoring Simpson from third base. The Mocs then rallied to score two unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. 
 
The Tigers got back on the board in the fourth. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Anayah Baker-Rowell, which evened the score at 2-2. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Chattanooga's Kaili Phillips scored on a base hit by Jayce Purdy to right field that landed just fair. Phillips advanced to third, the throw home to hold her went wide, and she scored on the throwing error to end the game.
 
The invitational will be a Homecoming for seven of the Tigers. Juniors Anayah Baker-Rowell (Douglasville), Peyton Fointno (Lawrenceville), and Jasmine Brown (McDonough), along with sophomores Ryla Taylor (Barnesville) and Mikayla Duke (Marietta), freshman Jasmine Blackburn (Atlanta) and manager Meaghan Lewis (Suwanee) all hail from Georgia.
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (6-3) vs. Western Carolina (2-2)
Date/Time: Friday, February 24|| 12:30 p.m. (CST)
Location: Bob Heck Softball Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats: Tennessee State vs. Western Carolina (statbroadcast.com)
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (6-3) at Georgia State (4-7)
Date/Time: Friday, February 24 || 5:30 p.m. (CST)
Location: Bob Heck Softball Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats: Tennessee State at Georgia State (statbroadcast.com)
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (6-3) vs. Western Carolina (2-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 25 || 10:00 a.m. (CST)
Location: Bob Heck Softball Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats: Western Carolina vs. Tennessee State (statbroadcast.com)
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (6-3) vs. Northern Iowa (0-6)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 25 || 12:30 p.m. (CST)
Location: Bob Heck Softball Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats: UNI vs. Tennessee State (statbroadcast.com)
 
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (6-3) at Georgia State (4-7)
Date/Time: Sunday, February 26 || 12:30 p.m. (CST)
Location: Bob Heck Softball Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats: Tennessee State at Georgia State (statbroadcast.com)
 
 SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Grad student Nahtali Simpson has reached base safely in eight of the first nine games this season. The shortstop has two hits in her last three games and is now hitting .375 for the season.
• Laila Armstrong is leading the Tigers with a .423 batting average. She started the week second in the OVC in batting average and on-base percentage.
• Anayah Baker-Rowell is 5-for-5 in stolen bases.
• Sophomore Caitlyn Manus leads the OVC in wins with three.
• Sophomore Onnika Spencer is tied for first in the OVC in RBI with eight. Jasmine Blackburn is right behind her with seven.

 
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA

• Fifth-year player Bailey Huneycutt has 105 career RBI, ranking third in the Western Carolina record books.
• Junior Brooklynn Brewington has 36 career stolen bases and is eyeing Amelia Griffin's 50 stolen base record. She is 3-for-3 so far this season.
• Western Carolina pitchers have thrown three shutouts in the first four games this year. Four pitchers have a combined 3.67 ERA.

 
SCOUTING GEORGIA STATE

• Senior Bailee Richardson leads Georgia State with in batting average (.414), hits (12), RBI (11), runs scored (nine) and slugging percentage (.793). She also is tied for team tops in three other hitting categories. 
• Emma Yanes has made the most of her 12 at-bats with five hits, four runs scored, and five RBI.
• Emily Hodentt has thrown two complete games this season. Her three wins are the most on the team.

 
 SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA

• Northern Iowa is led on offense by infielder Taylor Hogan and outfielder Faith Standerski. Both players are batting above .300, scoring at least one run, and collecting one RBI apiece.
• Samantha Heyer has the lone complete game for Northern Iowa this season. Heyer and Wischnowski have both appeared in five games this season.
• Northern Iowa fell to TSU's former OVC foe Austin Peay 10-5 on Wednesday.