NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State Tigers softball team returns to Tiger Field this weekend to host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in an Ohio Valley Conference three-game series.

The Tigers enter the weekend following their conference-opening road series against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles. Tennessee State showed offensive flashes throughout the series, including a late comeback push in game two and a solo home run from Jace Jackson in the finale.

Tennessee State will look to carry that momentum into the home stand as it continues conference play.

LAST TIME OUT

The Tigers faced Southern Indiana in a three-game series in Evansville to open OVC action.

In the opener, TSU produced nine hits, led by multi-hit performances from Jace Jackson, Hailey Hunt, and Kailyn Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste highlighted the offensive effort with an RBI triple as the Tigers rallied with three runs in the second inning.

Game two proved to be the closest contest of the series. Tennessee State rallied late behind a two-run home run from Jean-Baptiste and a sacrifice fly from Jasmine Blackburn to take a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. Southern Indiana responded in the bottom half and eventually secured a 6-5 extra-inning win.

In the series finale, Jackson delivered a solo home run in the seventh inning to account for TSU's run, while Alexis Woods, Hunt, and Makena Hawkins each recorded hits.

Across the weekend, Jean-Baptiste, Jackson, and Blackburn helped power the Tigers' offense, while multiple pitchers saw action in the circle including Chelsi Ervin, Tianna Salcido, Kristian Holder, and Miriam Gordon.

SERIES HISTORY

Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech have met regularly in OVC play since 2008.

Recent matchups between the programs have produced several competitive contests, including TSU wins during last season's series in Cookeville and a dramatic extra-inning victory in the 2024 OVC Tournament.

Recent Results (since 2023):

• May 7, 2025 – TTU 10, TSU 2 (OVC Tournament – Peoria, Ill.)

• Mar. 9, 2025 – TSU 7, TTU 2 (Cookeville, Tenn.)

• Mar. 8, 2025 – TTU 6, TSU 3 (Cookeville, Tenn.)

• Mar. 8, 2025 – TSU 3, TTU 0 (Cookeville, Tenn.)

• May 8, 2024 – TSU 9, TTU 8 (OVC Tournament – Peoria, Ill.)

• May 5, 2024 – TTU 7, TSU 4 (Nashville)

BY THE NUMBERS

9 – Hits recorded by Tennessee State in the opening game of the USI series.

2 – Multi-hit games from Kailyn Jean-Baptiste during the USI matchup.

1 – Home run by Jace Jackson in the series finale against Southern Indiana.

4 – Pitchers utilized by TSU during the opening conference series.

5 – Runs scored by the Tigers in their late comeback push during game two of the USI series.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

Streaming and live stats links for the weekend series will be available through Tennessee State Athletics prior to first pitch.