HOUSTON — Texas Southern opened fast and never looked back in a 9–3 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sunday afternoon at MacGregor Park.
The Tigers struck for three runs in the first inning, capitalizing on early miscues and timely hitting. Evan Joubert put TSU on the board with an RBI single, and catcher Miguel Morales followed with a two‑run single to make it 3–0.
Joubert added to the lead in the third with a solo home run, pushing the advantage to 4–0. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Texas Southern continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings. Anthony Ruiz delivered a standout performance at the plate, going 4‑for‑5 with three RBI, including run‑scoring singles in the fourth and fifth. Erwin Cabassa stretched the lead even further in the sixth with a two‑run home run to left, and Marco Mueses added an RBI double moments later to put TSU up 9–1.
Mississippi Valley pushed across a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Noah Bufford, then added two more in the seventh on a two‑RBI hit from Tom Early. But the Tigers' pitching staff limited any further damage, holding the Delta Devils scoreless over the final two innings.
Justin Mays anchored the win on the mound, tossing six strong innings. He allowed just one run on five hits and struck out nine without issuing a walk. Three relievers — Mikelle Mason, Kevin Braziel and Seve Medrano — combined to close out the final three frames.
Texas Southern outhit Mississippi Valley 12–10 and left 14 runners on base. The Tigers also stole three bases and benefitted from seven walks.
