NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State softball team cruised to a two-game sweep of the SIUE Cougars on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Tigers downed SIUE 11-8 in game one, followed by a 2-1 victory in game two. The two OVC wins move TSU to 19-19, 10-7.
TSU 11, SIUE 8
Jasmine Blackburn racked up four hits to help power the Tennessee State Tigers over the SIUE Cougars 11-8 in game one on Saturday.
Holly Ayala (5-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (18-18, 9-7). The
right-hander went 4.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out two.
In addition to her four hits, Blackburn had a triple and two RBI to lead the Tigers.
Ryla Traylor put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
Peyton Fointno also contributed for Tennessee State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Tennessee State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple from Blackburn.
The Tigers lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 7-3. Tennessee State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which tightened the Cougars lead to 7-5.
SIUE expanded their lead to 8-5 before the Tennessee State offense got back in action, overtaking the Cougars to grab a 9-8 advantage in the fifth. The Tigers bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of
Laila Armstrong.
Tennessee State held the Cougars without a run before their offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Tigers pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of
Fointno that brought home Blackburn and
Alexis Woods, bringing the score to 11-8 in favor of Tennessee State. The score remained 11-8 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Blackburn compiled four hits on the day for Tennessee State.
» Every Tennessee State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Cougars at a 14-9 clip.
» Tennessee State went 7-for-14 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» The Tigers got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 39
SIU-Edwardsville hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» Blackburn led the Tigers at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
TSU 2, SIUE 1
The Tennessee State Tigers snuck by the SIUE Cougars to earn a close, 2-1 victory in the second game of the DH on Saturday.
Reina Castillo (5-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Tennessee State. The
right-hander went the distance (7.0), giving up one run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.
At the plate, the Tigers were paced by
Nahtali Simpson, who went 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Traylor put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Armstrong 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 fourth inning, when the Tigers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Simpson, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Tigers. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed one run across.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 26
SIU-Edwardsville hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out three.
» Simpson led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers will return to Tiger Field tomorrow afternoon to close out its series with SIUE. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
