NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee State softball team took down SIUE 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Field to secure the Ohio Valley Conference series sweep.

Reina Castillo (6-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for TSU (20-18, 11-7). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out one.

Nahtali Simpson's two extra-base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-2 day and included two doubles and a walk. Onnika Spencer furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Anayah Baker-Rowell also helped out for the Tigers, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a triple and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 2-0, the Tigers first put runs on the board in the third inning. An RBI triple from Baker highlighted a two-run inning for Tennessee State.

The score stayed at 2-2 until the very next inning, when the Tigers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Tennessee State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Alexis Woods, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Tigers.

SIU-Edwardsville fought back to even the ballgame at three before Tennessee State reclaimed a 6-3 advantage in the sixth inning. The Tigers scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer from Spencer that scored Ryla Traylor and Simpson. SIU-Edwardsville put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Tennessee State still held on for the 6-5 win.

GAME NOTES

» The Tigers power output was led by Simpson, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Cougars at a 9-7 clip.
» Tennessee State went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 29 SIU-Edwardsville hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out one.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

NEXT UP

TSU will be back in action on Wednesday evening as they travel to Murfreesboro to face MTSU.