TROY, Ala. — The Tennessee State softball team split its final two contests at the Troy Invitational with a win over Samford 12-9 and a 6-1 deficit to host Troy on Sunday.
Game 1: TSU vs. Samford
Onnika Spencer put together a brilliant showing at the plate Sunday, hitting two home runs to help lead the Tennessee State Tigers past the Samford Bulldogs 12-9.
Tianna Salcido (1-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Tennessee State (2-2). The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits.
Spencer went 2-for-4 at the plate, supplementing her two home runs with five RBIs. Jace Jackson added to Spencer's awesome power-hitting performance by going 1-for-2 with two RBI along with one walk. Anayah Baker-Rowell also chipped in for the Tigers, going 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Tennessee State plated two runs when Spencer left the yard with Mikayla Duke aboard.
The Bulldogs then rallied to score seven runs and take a 7-2 lead before the Tigers got back on the board in the second. The Tennessee State offense exploded for seven runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Baker-Rowell and a two-run single from Jackson, which brought the score to 9-7 in favor of the Tigers.
Samford clawed back to tie the ballgame at nine before Tennessee State reclaimed a 12-9 advantage in the fifth inning. The Tigers scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer from Spencer that scored Duke and Jackson. The score remained 12-9 for the rest of the game, as Tennessee State held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Tigers got two home runs off the bat of Spencer.
» Alexis Woods had three base knocks in the game for Tennessee State.
» The Tigers power output was led by Spencer, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Spencer drove in five runs for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Tigers had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Bulldogs 9-8 in the top of the second.
» The Tigers out-hit the Bulldogs at an 11-9 clip.
» Tennessee State went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 36 Samford hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls.
» The Tigers drew five walks from Samford pitching.
» Spencer led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI.
» Samford was led offensively by senior McKayla Cothran, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Sara Bond led the Bulldogs pitching staff, throwing five innings of three-run ball.
Game 2: TSU vs Troy
Tennessee State struggled on in the event finale, falling to the Troy Trojans by final score of 6-1.
Reina Castillo (1-2) got the ball to start for Tennessee State (2-3) and took the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers were trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning when they first put runs on the board. Tennessee State got an RBI single from Anayah Baker-Rowell, scoring Jace Jackson from second base. The Tigers were unable to get any closer, as Troy added four runs to their tally on the way to a 6-1 final.
GAME NOTES
» Tennessee State's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed one run across.
» Tennessee State went 3-for-7 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
» Tennessee State pitchers faced 33 Troy hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out two.
» The Tigers drew four walks from Troy pitching.
» Mikayla Duke led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4.
» Troy was led offensively by senior Taylor McKinney, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
