ACWORTH, GA. | The Grambling State softball team swept Clark Atlanta and Lane College on Sunday afternoon to conclude play at the HBCU Division II Tournament as the Lady Tigers are off to their best start since 2001 when the program began that season at 6-0.
Grambling State (4-0), battling temperatures in the low 30s, defeated Clark Atlanta, 10-2, in five innings and Lane College, 14-1, in five innings at Patriots Park. The Lady Tigers went 4-0 over the weekend with victories over Fort Valley State, Tuskegee, Clark Atlanta and Lane College and outscored its opponents, 36-7.
In addition to the big team victories over the weekend,
Rikkelle Miller was red-hot at the plate, going 9-for-13, with one double, one homer, driving in a team-high 10 runs and scored four times. On the mound,
D'Maria Matthews went 3-0, posting a 1.95 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched, with 14 strikeouts.
Game 1 vs. Clark Atlanta
Grambling State plated three runs in the first, two in the second, three in the third, one in each the fourth and fifth innings to cruise to the 10-2 victory.
Tyra Triplett opened the game with a walk and stole second.
Antiya Randle reached on an infield hit and with one down,
Rikkelle Miller grounded out to third as Triplett scored. With two out, Randle scored on a wild pitch and
Tia Coleman, who reached on a walk, came in to score on
Edwenia Foster's single up the middle.
The Lady Tigers put the game away in the second with two runs on two hits, as Miller's single to center plated
Morgan Adams and Randle.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 10 runs on 13 hits and committed one error
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Antiya Randle,
Morgan Adams,
Rikkelle Miller and
Edwenia Foster each registed two hits
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Rikkelle Miller drove in three of the 10 Lady Tiger runs
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Ja'Lynn Bonner (1-0) picked up the win, pitching 3.0 innings. She fanned four, walked one and gave up just one hit
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Kenyshae Beasley worked 2.0 innings in relief and surrendered two runs (one earned) on one hit, with three walks
> Tatianna Kelly took the loss for Clark Atlanta as she was tagged for eight runs on nine hits, with three strikeouts and three walks
> Janae Adams went 1-for-3, with the lone RBI for the Lady Panthers
Game 2 vs. Lane College
After a scoreless first inning, Grambling State struck for four runs in the second, three in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth
The Lady Tigers took advantage of four Lane College errors during Sunday's game.
Tayler Lenz-Selvera belted a two-run homer in the third and
Tyler Robinson added a two-run homer in the fourth as Grambling State cruised to the victory.
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with 14 runs on 14 hits and did not commit an error
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Rikkelle Miller went 3-for-4, with two runs scored and two runs driven in
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Tyler Robinson was 2-for-3, including a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored
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Tayler Lenz-Selvera went 2-for-2, with a homer, two runs scored and two RBIs
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Andreana Reynolds also collected two hits, with two runs scored and one RBI
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D'Maria Matthews (3-0) earned her third win of the weekend. She gave up one run on three hits, with five strikeouts and one walk
> Nautica Huddleston took the loss as she was tagged for four runs (three earned) on six hits, with one walk
> Kayla Saul pitched 3.0 innings in relief
Up Next
Grambling State will have its 2019 home opener on Tuesday at the GSU Softball Complex. The Lady Tigers will play host to Texas College, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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