OXFORD, Alabama — The "Nature Boy" Ric Flair coined the phrase, "To be the best, you have to beat the best." The Tennessee State University Tigers softball team (22-25-1) will have that chance when they take on the OVC #1 seed, the SEMO Redhawks (28-13), in single-elimination play in the OVC Tournament action.
 
SEMO entered the tournament as the heavy favorites, only losing twice against OVC opponents. The Tigers defeated them in Nashville when sophomore Caitlyn Manus shut the Redhawks out, scattering four hits in the 3-0 victory; SEMO won the second game of the doubleheader 9-2, with Game 3 being postponed due to cold weather.
 
The winner of the game will take on the fifth-seeded SIUE. SEMO leads the OVC in hitting and pitching. The key to the game is for the Tigers to be strong on defense and aggressive on the base pads.
 
The Matchup: #6 Tennessee State Tigers (22-25-1) vs. #1 SEMO Redhawks (28-13)
Date/Time: Friday, May 12 | 11 a.m. (CST)
Watch Live: ESPN +
Live Stats: https://statb.us/b/465556
Location: | Oxford, Alabama
 
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Grad student Nahtali Simpson (2/28/2000) and senior Shelby Shepard (6/12/2000) are the only two Tiger players born the last time TSU was in the postseason. Seniors Jordan Turner (5/10/2001) and Marisa Mauroschadt (6/20/2001), along with junior Peyton Fointno (11/23/01), were born in the same year.
• With their victory over Lindenwood, the Tigers have won the second most games in program history.
• Junior Peyton Fointno won the OVC and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week. Since moving down to the seventh hole in the batting order, she has raised her average by 48 points. She has five singles in her last five at-bats. Fointno has 10 RBI in her previous four regular season games. She is currently on a six-game hitting streak.
• Sophomore Caitlyn Manus won the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. She pitched ten innings on Wednesday, giving TSU their first OVC tournament win.
• Junior Ryla Traylor has hit safely in nine of the last ten games. She is now the only Tiger hitting above .300. She has reached base safely in 20 of her 23 OVC regular season games. She has hits in 15 of her last 17 games.
• Junior Anayah Baker-Rowell is a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases this season. She was big in the OVC tourney win over Lindenwood. She tripled in a run and scored to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, then doubled in another run for a walk-off victory in the tenth.
• Freshman catcher Onnika Spencer leads the team in home runs (nine), RBI (31), and slugging percentage (.572).
• Laila Armstrong has reached base safely in 16 of the last 19 games.
• The Tigers have turned 23 double plays this season while only committing eight.

 
 
 
SCOUTING SEMO:

• Southeast Missouri is in the Ohio Valley Conference as a #1 seed for the eighth time in program history.
• SEMO leads the OVC in hitting with a remarkable .358 average. They have five of the top nine hitters in their lineup.
• Head coach Mark Redburn is the OVC Coach of the Year.
• Marisa Davis (6-0) and Delaney Kell (9-0) combined for a 15-0 record in regular-season OVC play. The staff has a stingy 1.88 ERA.
• Sophomore Aubrie Shore won the OVC co-Player of the Year.