NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State softball team showed resilience and late-game fight in Sunday's Senior Day finale at Tiger Field, rallying in the final innings before falling 7-5 to SIUE in the closing game of the Ohio Valley Conference series.
The Tigers battled throughout the afternoon, producing timely offense and strong pitching down the stretch while honoring their senior class in the final home game of the season.
SIUE struck first with single runs in the opening two innings before adding two more in the third and three in the fourth to build an early advantage. Tennessee State continued to compete and found its offensive rhythm midway through the game.
TSU ignited its comeback in the fourth inning. Jace Jackson and Jasmine Blackburn reached base to set up Hailey Hunt, who delivered a two-RBI single to put the Tigers on the board. Moments later, Kailyn Jean-Baptist added an RBI single, taking advantage of defensive miscues to trim the deficit to 6-3 and energize the Tiger Field crowd.
The Tigers continued to apply pressure late. Jackson provided one of the day's biggest highlights in the sixth inning, racing around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to cut the margin to two runs.
Tennessee State kept the momentum going in the seventh inning as Makena Hawkins scored on an RBI single from Mariyah Brown, bringing the tying run into play before SIUE secured the final outs.
Jackson led the Tigers offensively with two hits and two runs scored, including the inside-the-park home run. McDaniel added a multi-hit performance, while Hunt and Jean-Baptist each recorded RBI hits. Brown drove in a run in the final inning as Tennessee State finished with eight hits on the afternoon.
In the circle, Courtney Richardson earned the start, while Tianna Salcido and Chelsi Ervin combined in relief. Ervin delivered three scoreless innings to close the game and give the Tigers an opportunity to mount their late comeback.
Up Next
Tennessee State now turns its attention to the final series of the regular season, traveling to Charleston, Illinois, to face Eastern Illinois in an Ohio Valley Conference matchup. The Tigers will open the series Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
