LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Tennessee State softball team scored a combined 11 runs over two games but fell to Tarleton State and New Mexico in the Cowgirl classic to open its season. The Lady Tigers opened the day with a 13-5 loss to Tarleton, followed by a walk-off loss to New Mexico.
Tarleton 13, TSU 5 – Five Innings
An outstanding offensive output was not enough for Tennessee State on Friday morning. The Tigers tallied five runs but could not hold the Tarleton State Texans at bay, and were bested 13-5 in their first game of the season.
Junior
Caitlyn Manus (0-1) got the ball to start for Tennessee State (0-1) and took the loss.
Sophomore
Onnika Spencer led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double and three RBI. Junior
Ryla Traylor provided a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore
Jasmine Blackburn also chipped in, going 1-for-1 for Tennessee State with a double and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Tennessee State got an RBI single from Spencer, scoring senior
Anayah Baker-Rowell from second base.
The Texans then rallied to score 10 runs and take a 10-1 lead before the Tigers got back on the board in the third. The Tennessee State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Spencer, which tightened the Texans lead to 10-5. The Tigers were unable to get any closer, as
Tarleton State added three runs to their tally on the way to a 13-5 final.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed four runs across.
» Tennessee State went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 27 Tarleton State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and five fly balls while striking out three.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
UNM 7, TSU 6
Tennessee State took a 6-5 lead into the seventh inning, but could not hold on and fell 7-6 to the New Mexico
Lobos in their second game on Friday.
Junior
Caitlyn Manus (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (0-2) and took the loss.
At the plate, the Tigers were led by senior
Nahtali Simpson, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a walk and two RBI. Junior
Ryla Traylor compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Senior
Laila Armstrong also helped out for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the third inning. Simpson drove in two runs for Tennessee State with a single, that scored senior
Anayah Baker-Rowell and sophomore
Onnika Spencer.
The Tigers kept the deficit at 3-2 before taking the lead in the fourth. The Tennessee State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of
Traylor, which brought the Tigers lead to 6-3. The Tigers were unable to hold the lead, as New Mexico scored four times over the remaining three innings to grab the 7-6 win.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Tennessee State went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» The Tigers got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 35 New Mexico hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out four.
» The Tigers drew five walks from New Mexico pitching.
» Simpson led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will play two more games tomorrow afternoon, starting with Lamar at 1:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with the host school McNeese at 6:30 p.m.
