NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State softball team continued its Ohio Valley Conference home series against Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field. The Tigers battled back in a thrilling opener before falling 11-10 in game one and dropped game two, 9-1 in five innings.
GAME ONE: TIGERS RALLY LATE IN BACK-AND-FORTH CONTEST
Tianna Salcido earned the start in the circle for Tennessee State as the Tigers faced an early deficit before mounting multiple comeback efforts throughout the contest.
Lindenwood struck first with four runs in the opening inning, but Tennessee State immediately answered. JaKeyla McDaniel reached on a bunt single and advanced into scoring position before Jace Jackson delivered an RBI double up the middle to put TSU on the board. Alexis Woods followed with an RBI groundout to trim the deficit to 4-2 after one inning.
The Lions added a run in the third and two more in the fourth to extend their advantage, but the Tigers responded with their biggest offensive frame of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth.
After Woods singled and Dani James drew a walk, Mariyah Brown ripped a two-run double to center field, cutting the margin to 7-4. TSU continued to apply pressure as Jackson brought home another run on a groundout before a wild pitch allowed another Tiger to score, pulling Tennessee State within one at 7-6.
Lindenwood regained momentum with a five-run sixth inning to take an 11-6 lead, but Tennessee State refused to go away.
In the bottom of the seventh, Blackburn and Jackson opened the inning with consecutive hits before aggressive baserunning and defensive miscues helped ignite a dramatic rally. A wild pitch plated one run, while Woods reached on a fielder's choice that brought two more Tigers home. Kyra Taylor added an RBI groundout to cap a four-run inning as TSU closed within 11-10.
The Tigers placed the tying run aboard, but Lindenwood recorded the final outs to escape with the narrow victory.
GAME TWO: EARLY TIGER RUN HIGHLIGHTS SECOND GAME
Miriam Gordon got the start in game two for Tennessee State before the Tigers utilized multiple pitchers in relief.
Lindenwood opened the scoring with a two-run triple in the first inning and added three runs in the second to build an early lead. Tennessee State answered in the bottom half of the second when Hailey Hunt worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Kyra Taylor drove her in with an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
The Tigers continued to battle defensively, highlighted by key innings from the pitching staff that stranded multiple runners and prevented further damage through the middle frames.
TSU threatened again in the third and fourth innings as Mariyah Brown and Woods recorded hits to spark offensive chances, but the Lions added insurance runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead and secure a 9-1 victory in five innings.
Tennessee State will conclude the series against Lindenwood on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tiger Field.
