MONROE, La. | The Grambling State University softball team opened the 2018 season at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Mardi Gras Classic on Thursday and Friday against Stephen F. Austin, Central Arkansas, UT-Martin and host ULM.
 
In the season opener on Thursday, the Lady Tigers (0-4) fell, 10-0 to Stephen F. Austin in five innings and completed the day with an 11-2 loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
 
Grambling State completed tournament play on Friday with a 10-0 loss in six innings and dropped a 10-2 decision in six innings to UT-Martin.
 
Stephen F. Austin (10-0 loss)
The Lady Tigers opened the season with a 10-0 loss to the Ladyjacks.
 
Grambling State surrendered a two-run homer by Lauren Becker in the second and Amber Landry scored on a passed ball to give Stephen F. Austin a 3-0 lead.
 
The Ladyjacks put the game away with a seven-run third inning.
 
Makayla Sikes (1-0) collected her first win and combined a no-hitter with Jordan Llinas and Clarissa Hernandez. The lone Lady Tigers base runner came on a walk in the fourth inning.
 
Margarita Corona, Triniti Kendzior and Bryana Novegil each went 2-for-3, to pace the Stephen F. Austin offense.
 
D'Maria Matthews took the loss for Grambling State, surrendering 10 runs (six earned) on 10 hits, with five walks and three strikeouts.
 
Louisiana-Monroe (11-2 loss)
Grambling State gave up four runs in the second, one in the third to trail, 5-0 after four innings.
 
The Lady Tigers pushed through a pair of runs in the top half of the fifth on two hits.
 
In the fifth, Allye Hartley walked to begin the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kenyshae Beasley reached on an error as Hartley came around to score. Mercedes Williams, who went 1-for-3, followed with a base hit to center to advance Beasley to third and Morgan Adams, who went 1-for-2, singled to center to plate the second run.
 
The Lady Warhawks put the game away by scoring six runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Caitlin McDowell (0-1) took the loss in 4.2 innings pitched. She gave up 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits with a pair of walks.
 
Sydney Wader picked up the win with two runs on two hits, four strikeouts and three walks in 5.0 innings.
 
Central Arkansas (10-0 loss)
Rio Sanchez (1-0) toss a no-hitter in five innings, while walking two and fanning one to pick up the win for Central Arkansas.
 
The Bears plated two runs in the first, two in the second and three in the third and fourth innings, while capitalizing on four Grambling State errors to pick up the victory.
 
Hannah Martin (0-1) took the loss for the Lady Tigers. She gave up seven runs (four earned) on eight hits, with four walks in 3.0 innings. Matthews came on in relief and surrendered three runs on eight hits, with one walk.
 
UT-Martin (10-2 loss)
Grambling State fell behind, 9-0 through the middle of the second as UT-Martin plated three runs in the first and six runs in the second.
 
The Lady Tigers cut the margin to 9-1 with a run in the bottom half of the second as Hartley, who was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, came around the score when Monique Smith singled to right.
 
Grambling State continued to fight back and plated its second run of the afternoon in the bottom of the third when Williams, who opened the inning with a base hit to left, scored on a double to left center by Hartley. The Lady Tigers had an opportunity to plate more runs, but stranded the bases loaded when Tayler Lenz-Selvera struck swinging.
 
UT-Martin picked up a run in the top of the sixth and Grambling State could not answer in the bottom of the frame to give the Skyhawks the victory.
 
Tia Coleman paced the Grambling State offense by going 2-for-3, while Williams was 2-for-4.
 
Samantha Scott took the victory as she gave up two runs on seven hits, with one strikeout. Hannah Ridolfi pitched 3.2 innings of work and scattered three runs.
 
Matthews (0-2) took the loss in 2.0 innings of work. She was tagged with nine runs (six earned) on eight hits, with three walks. McDowell worked 4.0 innings in relief and gave up one unearned run on three hits, with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
Up Next
Grambling  State seeks its first win as the Lady Tigers compete in the LSU-Alexandria Softball Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 17.
 
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