EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Tennessee State softball team opened Ohio Valley Conference play on the road Saturday, traveling to Evansville, Indiana to face Southern Indiana. The Tigers fell 10-4 in game one before battling into extra innings in game two, ultimately dropping a 6-5 decision.

GAME ONE: TIGERS TALLY NINE HITS AGAINST USI

Kristian Holder made her sixth start of the season, throwing 2.1 innings and recording one strikeout. Courtney Richardson and Miriam Gordon entered in relief. Richardson logged her longest outing of the season, working 2.2 innings with one strikeout while facing 16 batters. Gordon closed the game for the Tigers, tossing a scoreless inning.

Southern Indiana jumped out to a strong start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Jasmine Blackburn led off the top of the second with a five-pitch walk before Kailyn Jean-Baptiste delivered a triple to right-center to bring her home. Mariyah Brown later capitalized on three Screaming Eagles errors to cut the deficit to one.

Southern Indiana responded with six runs over the next four innings to extend its lead.

In the top of the sixth, walks by Alexis Woods and Hailey Hunt put two runners on base. Blackburn added another RBI for the Tigers, bringing the score to 10-4 before USI secured the final outs.

GAME TWO: TIGERS FALL IN EXTRA INNINGS

Chelsi Ervin made her first collegiate start in game two, pitching 4.0 innings with one strikeout while allowing just three runs. Tianna Salcido finished the day in the circle for the Tigers, tossing 4.1 innings and facing 23 batters.

After a scoreless first inning, Southern Indiana plated four runs across the next four frames. The Tigers answered when Blackburn led off with a single before Jean-Baptiste launched her first home run of the season, cutting the deficit to two.

Tennessee State mounted a late rally in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back walks put two runners on with no outs. Woods reached on an RBI fielder's choice to bring the Tigers within one, before Blackburn lifted a sacrifice fly to give TSU a 5-4 lead.

The Screaming Eagles responded in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game to force extra innings.

After a scoreless inning and a half, Southern Indiana secured the win with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.

The Tigers return to action Sunday, March 9, for the final game of the series against Southern Indiana. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.