NASHVILLE- The weather was beautiful in Nashville, but the results weren't for the Tennessee State University Tigers (14-17-1, 5-5 OVC) as they dropped a doubleheader to the OVC-leading Eastern Illinois University Panthers (18-13, 7-0 OVC) 5-3 and 4-1 in OVC action from Tiger Field.
GAME 1 | Eastern Illinois 5, Tennessee State 3
EIU Gets Late Insurance Runs to Take Game One
The Tennessee State Tigers got a boost from graduate student Nahtali Simpson, who collected three hits in a 5-3 loss to the Eastern Illinois Panthers Saturday.
Freshman Holly Ayala (4-6) got the ball to start for Tennessee State (14-16-1, 5-4) and took the loss. The right-hander pitched well, holding EIU hitless for 5 1/3 innings. Ayala went the distance, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on four hits, allowing four walks, and striking out three.
Simpson's three-hit day led the Tigers offensively. Ryla Traylor also put together a standout performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Anayah Baker-Rowell also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in three trips to the dish while adding a triple and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 2-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Peyton Fointno led the inning off with a walk and stole second base. Simpson singled over second base, and they both scored Tennessee State scored on a two-run double off the bat of Traylor.
The Panthers pushed across a run in the top of the sixth and added two insurance runs in the seventh to make the score 5-2. Baker-Rowell tripled to lead off the bottom of the inning and scored on a Fointno groundout, but the Tigers couldn't muster up any more runs.
GAME NOTES
» Simpson led the Tigers, compiling three hits in the ballgame.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the third when they pushed two runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Panthers at an 8-4 clip.
» Ayala faced 30 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
» Traylor had a good game for the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Eastern Illinois was led offensively by Jaylen Prichard, who went 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
» Olivia Price led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.
GAME 2 | Eastern Illinois 4, Tennessee State 1
Early Home Runs Doom Tigers
Sophomore Caitlyn Manus gave up two home runs but shut the Eastern Illinois Panthers the rest of the way but couldn't muster much offense in their 4-1 loss in game two. Manus (10-11) started and took the loss in the circle for TSU. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
In the batter's box, the Tigers were paced by Onnika Spencer, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Mikayla Duke also compiled a nice game at the dish, going 1-for-2 with a double. Laila Armstrong also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 3-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Spencer put Tennessee State on the board with a one-out solo home run off Rachel Kaufman. The Tigers could not get any closer, as Eastern Illinois added one run to their tally on the way to a 4-1 final.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the second when it pushed one run across.
» Manus faced 30 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out two.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.
» Eastern Illinois was led offensively by Amber Cieplinski, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
» Kaufman led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of one-run ball.
Both teams will return to close out the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
