Lady Tigers win SWAC West Division with doubleheader split on Senior Day

HOUSTON – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University claimed the Southwestern Athletic Conference's West Division championship outright Saturday after splitting a doubleheader with Grambling.
 
TSU won the series finale 11-3 in six innings after falling 4-3 in the opening game of the afternoon.
 
Madilynn Marek knocked in three runs, while Heaven Benavidez added two RBIs to help the Lady Tigers win the finale and earn a split of the doubleheader and the series victory. TSU (21-16) finishes conference play with a 12-6 league record.
 
Lauren Rodriguez pitched four and one-third innings and scattered only three hits to pick up the win in game two. She improved to 8-4 on the season. Only one of Rodriguez' three runs given up was earned.
 
Though the Lady Tigers won their contest thanks to the mercy rule, it was not without a save opportunity. With TSU ahead 5-0 going into the fourth inning, Grambling pieced together a three-run rally, prompting a call to relief pitcher Jasmin Fulmore. Fulmore shut down the visitors' rally, striking out two batters and allowing only one hit en route to her first save of the season.
 
In between games, the Lady Tigers honored the seven seniors on the roster. Six of those seniors – Gisella Paranich, Treshea Wilson, Krystalani Yockman, Kierra Patton, Adreana Casares, and Anisha Richardson – occupied the first six spots in the lineup of Saturday's opener. Senior pitcher Tiffany Marshall was also honored.
 
Casares knocked a first-inning RBI for TSU in the opening game, while Yockman ignited a rally in the bottom of the seventh, knocking a two-run a home run to cut Grambling's lead to one run. Paranich scored twice in the opener.
 
TSU concludes the regular season Wednesday when they travel to San Antonio for a doubleheader at Incarnate Word starting at 3 p.m. The Lady Tigers will open the SWAC Tournament next weekend.