NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State softball team hosted Tennessee Tech in an Ohio Valley Conference series at Tiger Field this weekend. The Tigers dropped a hard-fought 11-8 extra-inning contest in game one before falling 14-1 in the series finale.
GAME ONE: TIGERS RALLY BUT FALL IN EXTRA INNINGS
Tennessee State collected 13 hits in the opener, with several Tigers contributing multi-hit performances.
Jace Jackson led the offense with a 3-for-4 outing that included a triple and an RBI. Jasmine Blackburn added two hits and scored three runs while reaching base four times with two walks. Kailyn Jean-Baptiste, Mariyah Brown, and Kyra Taylor each recorded two hits for TSU.
Tennessee Tech struck first with a four-run opening inning, but the Tigers quickly responded in the bottom half. Blackburn and Jackson delivered back-to-back singles before Jean-Baptiste drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home TSU's first run.
The Tigers continued to chip away at the deficit. In the third inning, Jean-Baptiste tripled and later scored on an RBI single from Taylor before Dani James added another RBI single to tie the game at 4-4.
Tennessee Tech regained the lead with three runs in the fourth inning, but TSU answered again. Jean-Baptiste drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the fourth, and Jackson later delivered an RBI triple in the fifth to bring the Tigers within one.
After the Golden Eagles added a run in the seventh, Tennessee State mounted another rally. Blackburn walked and Jackson singled to set up Hailey Hunt, who delivered a two-run single to center field to tie the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.
Tennessee Tech broke the tie in the eighth inning, plating three runs to secure the 11-8 win.
In the circle, Tianna Salcido started the game for the Tigers, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing seven runs. Courtney Richardson came on in relief and worked the final three innings.
GAME TWO: BLACKBURN HOMERS AS TIGERS FALL IN SERIES FINALE
Tennessee Tech jumped out early in game two, using a seven-run second inning to build momentum on the way to a 14-1 victory.
The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when Blackburn launched a solo home run to center field, giving TSU a brief 1-0 lead.
However, the Golden Eagles answered quickly, scoring seven runs in the second inning and adding runs in the third, fourth, and fifth frames to extend their advantage.
Tennessee State finished with five hits in the contest. Blackburn, Noelani Wilkerson, Jackson, Alexis Woods, and Taylor each recorded hits for the Tigers, while Woods and Taylor added doubles.
Kristian Holder started in the circle for TSU, while Miriam Gordon, Salcido, and Richardson each appeared in relief during the game.
The Tigers return home Wednesday for a midweek matchup against UT Chattanooga, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. Tennessee State will then host UT Martin for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m., followed by the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
