JACKSON, Miss. – In a battle of last season's respective division champions, Texas Southern prevailed in both halves of a doubleheader at Jackson State by scores of 14-6 and 14-11.
After Jackson State responded to Texas Southern's two-run first inning by putting up a three-spot in the bottom of the frame, TSU took control in the third inning where it began a stretch of scoring at least two runs or more in four of the final five innings. Jackson State was unable to match the bat production of the defending conference champions over the course of the game.
Marisa Padron hit a two-run triple to put TSU ahead 7-3 and in the final inning, Haley Smith put the game out of reach with a grand slam. Smith went 2-for-3 with five RBI, and Miranda Rodarte was 2-for-4 with five runs scored. Canessa Swanson and Alexis Hansard each had two hits for JSU, and Lyndsey Colvin picked up two RBI.
Tyra Williams improved to 4-1 for TSU, striking out five while allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 5.0 innings. Sybil Lozano took the loss, allowing 12 hits and 14 runs (13 earned) while issuing eight walks in a complete game.
Errors derailed JSU in game two, as the home-standing Tigers committed seven of them, resulting in half of TSU's runs being unearned.
After a three-run shot by Swanson (1-for-2, 3 R, 3 RBI) in the second inning put JSU up 5-2, the visiting Tigers turned it around, picking up one run in the fourth before getting three unearned runs in the fifth to go up 6-5. A two-run double by Colvin (3-for-4, 3 RBI) regained the lead for JSU, but TSU opened up for seven runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run base hit by Brianna Simpson (2-for-5, 3 R, 4 RBI) and a three-run home run by Tiffany Marshall (2-for-4, 5 RBI).
Jackson State scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to get within two, but an insurance run in the seventh was enough for Texas Southern.
Jasmine Fulmore (3-2) picked up the win with 4.0 innings of work, allowing six runs on four hits and issuing five walks while striking out four. Sierra Abbott (0-5) took the loss (6 IP, 9 H, 13 R, 7 ER, 9 BB).
