MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Grambling State University softball team split a pair of games to begin play at the Black and Gold Spring Tournament, hosted by Alabama State University, at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
 
Grambling State (7-1) began play with a 3-1 loss to Alabama State, but completed the first day with a 5-3 victory over Howard.
 
Game 1 vs. Alabama State
Alabama State (6-5) struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and grabbed a run in the fifth to take a 3-0 advantage into the sixth.
 
Grambling State plated one run on three hits in the sixth to close the gap to 3-1.
 
With two down in the frame, Tia Coleman singled to center and advanced to second when Tyler Robinson reached on an infield hit. Morgan Adams followed with an RBI base hit to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, Tayler Lenz-Selvera lined out to end the inning.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with one run on six hits, committed four errors and left seven on base
> Tia Coleman and Tyler Robinson each went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Coleman scoring the lone Lady Tiger run
> Tyra Triplett and Morgan Adams registered one hit apiece
> D'Maria Matthews took the loss as she surrendered three runs (one earned) on four hits, with one walk
> Alabama State finished with three runs on four hits and stranded five on base
> Justine Jean earned the victory with a complete game. She gave up one run on six hits, with five strikeouts and a pair of walks
 
Game 2 vs. Howard
Howard (2-9) plated two runs in the first inning, but Grambling State battled back and cut the margin to 2-1 with a run in the top half of the third.
 
Tyra Triplett doubled to center and came in to score when Antiya Randle stole second and was tagged out at third.
 
The Lady Tigers took the lead for good in the fourth with three runs on four hits.
 
Tia Coleman opened the frame with a triple to right and with down, Morgan Adams singled to put runners on the corners. Coleman stole home and Anaiyah Fultz doubled to center to plate Adams. With two outs, Triplett singled to right to score Fultz to give Grambling State a 4-2 lead.
 
The Bison cut the margin to 4-3 with a run in the sixth, but the Lady Tigers answered in the top half of the seventh.
 
McKenzie Johnson opened the frame with a base hit and stole second. A ground out by Randle moved Johnson to third and Andreana Reynolds reached on an infield hit as Johnson scored to give the Lady Tigers a 5-3 lead.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with five runs on eight hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded eight on base
> Tyra Triplett went 2-for-4, with one RBI and one run scored to pace the Grambling State offense
> McKenzie Johnson, Antiya Randle, Andreana Reynolds, Tia Coleman, Morgan Adams and Anaiyah Fultz each registered one hit
> Ja'Lynn Bonner started in the circle for the Lady Tigers and surrendered three runs (two earned) on five hits, with five walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched
> D'Maria Matthews picked up the victory in 1.2 innings of work.
> Howard finished with three runs on five hits, with one error and six left on base
 
Up Next
Grambling State continues play on Saturday in the Black and Gold Spring Tournament against Presbyterian and UMKC. The Lady Tigers will meet Presbyterian at 10 a.m., followed by a 12:30 p.m. contest against UMKC.
 
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