NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State softball team picked up a two-game sweep of Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon to win its second straight Ohio Valley Conference Series. TSU made quick work in game one's 2-1 victory, while the Tigers need eight innings to pull out the win in game two. The two wins move TSU to 13-11, 4-1 OVC.
TSU 2, LWU 1
The Tennessee State Tigers rallied from down 1-0 in the fifth inning to knock off the Lindenwood Lions 2-1 Saturday in game one of the double-header.
Caitlyn Manus (5-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for TSU (11-11, 2-1). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing no walks and striking out six.
Anayah Baker-Rowell led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a triple and an RBI.
Rylie Giddens put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a double.
Laila Armstrong also helped out, going 2-for-3 for the Tigers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the sixth inning. Tennessee State put up two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of Baker-Rowell. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Manus struck out six Lions hitters.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Lions at a 5-2 clip.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 24 Lindenwood hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out six.
» Baker-Rowell led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
TSU 5, LWU 4 | 8 Innings
TSU needed eight innings to finish the job in game two, but secured the 5-4 extra-innings win, walking it off on Peyton
Fointno's double to claim victory over the Lindenwood Lions Saturday.
Manus (6-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State. The
right-hander went one shutout inning without giving up a hit, allowing no walks and striking out one.
Fointno led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, two walks and an RBI.
Nahtali Simpson compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Giddens also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Tennessee State with a triple, while also scoring the game-winning run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Tennessee State got on the board thanks to Baker-Rowell's RBI double with one out.
TSU lost the lead they built in the first but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 2-1. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run triple from Simpson, which brought the score to 4-2 in favor of the Tigers. Lindenwood then rallied to tie the ballgame at 4-4 before Tennessee State walked it off in the bottom of the eighth on
Fointno's two-out RBI double.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Four Tigers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Tigers out-hit the Lions at a 12-6 clip.
» Tennessee State pitchers limited
Lindenwood to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 34 Lindenwood hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out four.
» Fointno led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
NEXT UP
The Tigers will return to Tiger Field tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to close out its series with LWU.
