HONOLULU, O'ahu – The Tennessee State softball team went 1-1 on Friday afternoon as they picked up their first win of the Spring Fling Tournament afternoon after defeating Portland State 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Tigers fell to LMU in their second game of the day 6-4.
PSU 4, TSU 3
Sophomore
Holly Ayala (1-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (7-7). The
right-hander went 0.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit, no walks, and striking out one.
Offensively, the Tigers were paced by senior
Anayah Baker-Rowell, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run, a walk and two RBI. Sophomore Onnika
Spencer put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Senior
Nahtali Simpson also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Tennessee State got on the board thanks to Spencer's RBI double with two outs.
The Tigers then held the Vikings scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning. Tennessee State picked up a run on Baker-Rowell's
leadoff home run off of senior A. Frost, which brought the Tigers lead to 2-0.
Portland State then rallied to take a 3-2 lead before Tennessee State scored two runs in the bottom half of the seventh to grab the win, walking it off on Portland State's error with Traylor at the plate that brought home senior
Laila Armstrong.
GAME NOTES
» Simpson compiled three hits in the game for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Vikings at a 9-7 clip.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 30 Portland State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out two.
» Baker-Rowell led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
LMU 6, TSU 4
Junior
Caitlyn Manus (2-5) came out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (7-8) and took the loss. Junior
Reina Castillo was a bright spot for the Tigers, coming out of the bullpen as well and throwing two shutout innings, allowing three hits.
At the plate, the Tigers were paced by junior
Ryla Traylor, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Senior
Anayah Baker-Rowell put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Sophomore
Onnika Spencer also helped out for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the third inning. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple from Baker-Rowell.
The Tigers lost the lead they built in the third, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 6-3. Tennessee State picked up a run on
Traylor's one-out solo home run off of junior Jessica Hubbard, which tightened the Greyhounds lead to 6-4. The Tigers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the third, when it pushed three runs across.
» Tennessee State left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 34 Loyola (MD) hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» The Tigers drew four walks from Loyola (MD) pitching.
» Traylor led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
NEXT UP
The Tigers will have one more game in the Spring Fling Tournament tomorrow with the time and opponent to be announced.
