CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee State softball team earned a split on the day after taking down Eastern Illinois 5-1 in game one, followed by a 9-7 loss in game two. Game one saw a dominant performance in the circle from
Caitlyn Manus, while sophomore catcher
Onnika Spencer logged two home runs on the afternoon.
TSU 5, EIU 1
It was a difficult day for Eastern Illinois pitchers, as the Tennessee State Tigers plated five runs en route to a 5-1 victory over the Panthers on Saturday.
Junior
Caitlyn Manus (9-7) got the win for Tennessee State The
right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing no walks and striking out five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Freshman
Alexis Woods 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. which brought the score to 4-1 in favor of the Tigers.
Tennessee State kept Eastern Illinois scoreless before building their lead to 5-1 the following inning. The Tigers scored a run on sophomore
Onnika Spencer's two-out solo home run off freshman McKenzie Oslanzi. The score remained 5-1 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Manus struck out five Panthers hitters.
» Tennessee State's highest-scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Tigers out-hit the Panthers at a 6-3 clip.
» Woods stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 23 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five.
» The Tigers drew five walks from Eastern Illinois pitching.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
EIU 9, TSU 7
Junior
Reina Castillo (4-5) took the loss in the circle for Tennessee State (17-17, 8-6).
At the plate, the Tigers were led by sophomore
Onnika Spencer, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and two RBI. Sophomore
Jasmine Blackburn furnished a standout day at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with a triple. Junior
Mikayla Duke also helped out for Tennessee State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Tennessee State scored twice on a two-run double off the bat of Duke.
The Tigers kept the Panthers off the board before tying it up in the fifth. Tennessee State picked up two runs when a single from junior
Ryla Traylor brought home Blackburn and senior
Laila Armstrong, which brought the score level at 4-4.
Eastern Illinois busted up the tie and took a 7-4 lead heading into the sixth, when Tennessee State narrowed the gap to 7-5. The Tigers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Armstrong.
Tennessee State held the Panthers off the board before tying it up in the seventh. The Tigers scored twice on Spencer's two-run homer, evening the score at 7-7. Eastern Illinois then scored two times in the bottom half of the seventh to break the tie and grab the 9-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Blackburn led the Tigers, compiling three base knocks in the ballgame.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
» Four Tennessee State hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» The Tigers out-hit the Panthers at a 13-10 clip.
» Tennessee State went 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 31 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out three.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
NEXT UP
The Tigers will close out its series with EIU tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
