NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State softball team displayed resilience and competitive energy throughout Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Tiger Field, battling SIUE in a pair of hard-fought contests during Senior Weekend. The Tigers pushed the Cougars throughout the afternoon, falling 5-3 in game one before dropping a 7-2 decision in game two.
Game One: SIUE 5, Tennessee State 3
Tennessee State opened the day with strong momentum, striking first behind timely execution at the plate. Jasmine Blackburn reached base to begin the rally before Jace Jackson delivered an RBI triple to center field, igniting the Tiger offense. Hailey Hunt followed with a sacrifice fly to give TSU an early 2-0 advantage.
The Tigers continued to compete throughout the contest as the game settled into a tight battle. After SIUE evened the score in the third inning, Tennessee State remained within striking distance thanks to steady pitching and defensive plays.
TSU mounted another push late in the game when JaKeyla McDaniel reached base in the sixth inning and Jackson came through again with an RBI double, trimming the deficit to one run and keeping pressure on the Cougars into the final inning.
Jackson paced the Tigers offensively with two hits and all three RBI, while Blackburn added a hit and run scored. McDaniel also crossed the plate after helping spark the late rally.
Chelsi Ervin earned the start in the circle, with Courtney Richardson working key relief innings before Tianna Salcido closed out the game for Tennessee State.
Game Two: SIUE 7, Tennessee State 2
The Tigers responded immediately in game two after an early SIUE surge, showing offensive consistency and determination throughout the lineup.
Tennessee State answered in the second inning with a well-executed rally. Consecutive hits from Courtney Richardson, Noelani Wilkerson, and Mariyah Brown set the table before McDaniel drove in a run to put TSU on the scoreboard and shift momentum back toward the Tigers.
TSU continued to generate offensive opportunities, collecting nine hits in the contest. Kailyn Jean-Baptist delivered one of the afternoon's highlights with an RBI triple in the fifth inning, bringing home Hailey Hunt and energizing the Tiger Field crowd.
Wilkerson and Brown each turned in multi-hit performances, while McDaniel added two hits and an RBI to lead Tennessee State's offensive effort.
Kristian Holder started in the circle, with Miriam Gordon providing solid middle-inning work and Salcido finishing the game in relief as the Tigers continued to compete through the final out.
Up Next
Tennessee State concludes Senior Weekend on Sunday with the final game of the Ohio Valley Conference series against SIUE at Tiger Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with Senior Day recognition taking place prior to the game as the Tigers honor their graduating class in their final home appearance.
