NASHVILLE, Tenn.- It was the tale of two stories for the Tennessee State University Tigers in the doubleheader against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. The good was the first game when sophomore Caitlyn Manus pitched a four-hit shutout to break a 14-game losing streak. In the nightcap, the Tigers could only muster three hits in a 9-2 loss.
GAME 1 | Tennessee State 3, Southeast Missouri State 0
Manus Dominant in Softball Shutout Win Over SEMO
Sophomore Caitlyn Manus was dealing on Saturday, tossing a four-hit shutout to lead the Tennessee State Tigers over the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (10-8, 3-1 OVC) 3-0. Manus (10-8, 3-0 OVC) went the distance for Tennessee State (13-11-1, 4-0), giving up four hits, walking three, and striking out one. The victory snapped a 14-game losing streak and the first home win over SEMO since March 24, 2007.
Graduate student Nahtali Simpson led offensively for the Tigers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a triple and an RBI. Junior Peyton Fointno put together a noteworthy performance at the dish, going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers took the lead for good in the first, scoring two runs. Fointno reached base on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Simpson took advantage of a strong wind blowing out to right field, lining a deep drive to right for a triple, scoring Fointno. Ryla Traylor then knocked in Simpson with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Tigers pushed another run across in the third when Jasmine Blackburn and Laila Armstrong led off the inning with singles. Fointno's single scored Blackburn.
GAME NOTES
» Manus tossed a four-hit shutout for the Tigers.
» Tennessee State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Tigers out-hit the Redhawks at a 5-4 clip.
» TSU went 2-for-6 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Manus faced 27 Southeast Missouri State hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out one.
» Simpson led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
» Southeast Missouri State was led offensively by junior Kynzie Wrigley, who went 2-for-2.
» Sophomore Delaney Kell led the Redhawks pitching staff, throwing three shutout innings.
GAME 2 | Southeast Missouri State 9, Tennessee State 2
Tigers Fall to SEMO
The Tennessee State Tigers (13-12-1, 4-1 OVC) had a tough showing on Saturday, falling to the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (11-8, 4-1 OVC) 9-2 despite the efforts of freshman Onnika Spencer, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Holly Ayala (3-4, 1-1 OVC) got the ball to start for Tennessee State (13-12-1, 4-1) and took the loss. Spencer led offensively for the Tigers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBI. Peyton Fointno also went 1-for-3, with her hit being a triple.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SEMO got on the board early, scoring five runs in the first three innings. TSU plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth when junior Ryla Traylor got the Tigers' first hit of the game, and Spencer hit a home run to make the score 5-2. SEMO added four more.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed two runs across.
» Ayala faced 38 Southeast Missouri State hitters in the game, allowing ten ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out two.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Southeast Missouri State was led offensively by Aubrey Shore, who went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI.
» Delaney Kell led the Redhawks pitching staff, throwing five innings of two-run ball.
