MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Tennessee State softball team picked up a two-game sweep of Morehead on Monday afternoon to win its first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season. The two wins move TSU to 11-10, 2-1.

TSU 15, MSU 3

The Tigers responded from 3-3 tie in the sixth inning to win in dramatic fashion, earning a 15-3 victory over the Morehead State Eagles Monday. TSU posted 12 runs in the top of the seventh.

Junior Caitlyn Manus (4-5) got the win for Tennessee State (10-10, 1-1). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits, allowing three walks and striking out 10.

In the batter's box, the Tigers were led by sophomore Onnika Spencer, who went 3-for-5 on the day with a double, a home run and five RBI. Freshman Kyra Taylor put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI. Junior Ryla Traylor also chipped in for Tennessee State, putting together three hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Tennessee State got an RBI single from Traylor, scoring senior Laila Armstrong from second base.

The Tigers then held the Eagles scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Jasmine Blackburn, which brought the Tigers lead to 2-0.

Morehead State narrowed Tennessee State's lead to 2-1 before the Tigers stretched the advantage to 3-1 in the fourth inning.

The Eagles then tied the game at three before Tennessee State fought back to reclaim their advantage in the seventh inning. The Tigers left the yard two times in the inning on the way to scoring 12 runs, bringing the Tennessee State advantage to 15-3. The score remained 15-3 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES

» Tennessee State got three-hit games from both Spencer and Traylor.
» Manus struck out 10 Eagles hitters.
» The Tigers power output was led by Spencer, who compiled two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Spencer drove in five runs for Tennessee State.
» Every Tennessee State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed 12 runs across.
» Tennessee State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Tigers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Tigers had a total of 17 hits.
» The Tigers out-hit the Eagles at a 17-4 clip.
» Tennessee State went 7-for-15 (.467) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers limited Morehead State to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 29 Morehead State hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 10.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and five RBI.
» Morehead State was led offensively by junior Darlene Montoya, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.
» Freshman Addie Stem led the Eagles pitching staff, throwing 4.2 innings of six-run ball.

TSU 4, MSU 3

It was a closely contested match-up, but TSU's three-run fifth inning proved to be the difference, as the Tigers emerged with a victory on Monday, knocking off the Morehead State Eagles 4-3 in game two of the double-header.

Sophomore Holly Ayala (3-4) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State (11-10, 2-1). The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits. Junior Reina Castillo also made an impact in the circle for the Tigers, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.

Senior Nahtali Simpson led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and two RBI. Sophomore Onnika Spencer furnished a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior Ryla Traylor also contributed, going 2-for-4 for Tennessee State.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Traylor came across to score the lone run of the inning for Tennessee State and get them on the board.

The score stayed at 1-1 until the very next inning when the Tigers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Simpson, which brought the score to 4-1 in favor of the Tigers. Morehead State put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but
Tennessee State still held on for the 4-3 win.

GAME NOTES

» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed three runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Eagles at a 9-6 clip.
» Tennessee State pitchers limited Morehead State to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 28 Morehead State hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
» Simpson led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.