Tigers slam Southern for second day in a row, win 9-1

HOUSTON – After a season-opening nine-game losing streak, the Texas Southern Tigers won its second straight game during the opening weekend of Southwestern Athletic Conference play as they defeated Southern 9-1.
 
Olajide Oloruntimilehin homered for the second day in a row and went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Tigers, who conclude their series with Southern on Sunday afternoon at MacGregor Park.
 
Oloruntimilehin's home run opened the sixth inning, a frame in which the Tigers would score four runs and stretch their lead to six. Horace LeBlanc had a two-RBI double later in the sixth.
 
TSU's Michael Villanueva picked up the win in relief for the Tigers, striking out six batters over three and one-thirds hitless Southern innings. Starting pitcher Dairus Boykins also pitched well, striking out six of his own, but Boykins was lifted from the game when the Jaguars threatened in the top of the fourth.
 
The Tigers broke a 1-1 tied in the bottom of the fifth when an infield throwing error with two runners on allowed Kamren Duke to reach base with two outs. Adding further insult to injury was that both of TSU's runners already on base (Richard Alamo and Christian Sanchez) scored on the error.
 
TSU and Southern are scheduled to conclude their series Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.