RUSTON, La. (Softball) – The Grambling State University softball team traveled to neighboring Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. for the Louisiana Tech Classic on Friday. The Lady Tigers opened play against the University of Northern Iowa Lady Panthers.

Game One
In the first game, Grambling was defeated by the Lady Panthers, 4-1. UNI scored a run in the bottom of the first, third, fourth, and fifth inning. GSU posted one lone run in the top pf the sixth inning as Tayler Lenz-Selvera was driven in by Allye Hartley's single, 4-1. Lenz-Selvera singled to the short stop to reach first base, moved to second base as Hailey Haynes hit a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third base when Tia Coleman grounded out.
Caitlin McDowell (2-5) suffered the lost with six inning pitched for four hits, two earned hits, one walk, and three strike outs.
Jaci Spencer (1-1) earned the win with six innings pitched for seven hits, one earned run, one walk, and 12 strike outs. Alyssa Buchanan (S,1) snapped a save with one inning pitched for three strike outs.

Game Two
The Lady Tigers dropped game two in five innings with a score of 10-0 to Sam Houston State University. The Bearkats scored eight runs in the first inning and two runs in the fifth inning. Alexus Brown suffered the loss in the circle with an inning pitched for four hits, five earned runs, four walks, and one strike out. Tayler Atkinson (1-4) snaps up the win for SHSU with a complete game pitched for one hit and three strike outs.

Game Three 
GSU played crosstown rival, Louisiana Tech, in game three of the classic and was defeated 6-0. The Lady Techsters scored one run in the second inning and five in the third inning. McDowell (2-6) took the loss for Grambling with a complete game pitched for 10 hits, three earned runs, and two strike outs. Preslee Galloway (6-2) picked up the win for La Tech with four inning pitched for one hit and eight strike outs.

Game Four
In the last game of the tournament, the Lady Tigers faced off with the Bearkats again and were defeated 9-1 in five innings. Sam Houston State struck hard and fast with four runs in the first inning, two runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning. Grambling started to rally by scoring one run in the top of the fourth inning. Hartley homered over the left field wall, 7-1. SHSU sealed the win with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. McDowell (2-7) suffered the loss for the  Lady Tigers with a complete game pitched for 14 hits, 4 earned runs, and two walks. Casey Kauder got the win for the Bearkats with a complete game pitched for three hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strike outs.

Grambling will take the diamond again in the HBCU Classic, hosted by Langston University in Oklahoma City, Okla. from March 3-5.