ACWORTH, GA. | Tia Coleman belted a solo home run in the opening game and Rikkelle Miller blasted a two-run game-winning homer in the second game as the Grambling State University softball team begins the season 2-0 for the first time since 2010.
 
The Lady Tigers (2-0) defeated Fort Valley State, 7-1, in the first game of the HBCU Division II Tournament andv completed the two-game opener with a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over Tuskegee.
 
Game 1 vs. Fort Valley State
Grambling State opened its season with a 7-1 victory over Fort Valley State as the Lady Tigers never trailed.
 
GSU struck for two runs in the first inning, one in the third, one in the fourth, two more in the fifth and one in the sixth to pick up the win.
 
In the bottom of the first with one down, Beasley doubled down the right field and stole third. Miller walked and stole second. Both came in to score when Coleman singled to left.
 
The Lady Tigers also got a solo home run in the fifth from Coleman, which gave Grambling State a 5-1 lead.
 
Inside the Numbers
> D'Maria Matthews pitched a complete game to earn her first win of the season
> D'Maria Matthews surrendered on run on five hits, fanned eight and walked three
> Kenyshae Beasley went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI
> Tia Coleman went 3-for-3, with three RBIs and one run scored
> Sara Lann paced Fort Valley State offensively by going 3-for-3
> Shakerra Geter had the lone run, a solo homer, in the top of the fifth
 
Game 2 vs. Tuskegee
Grambling State took a 2-1 lead into the sixth, but Tuskegee plated two runs to grab a 3-2 advantage entering the bottom of the frame.
 
Tyra Triplett began the inning with a single to center and stole second and third. Morgan Adams walked and with Miller at the plate, Triplett scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3. On a 3-1 pitch, Miller launched a two-run homer deep over the center field wall to give Grambling State a 5-3 lead.
 
D'Maria Matthews, who replaced starting pitcher Ja'Lynn Bonner in the fifth, fanned the first batter, then ended the game with a pair of flyouts.
 
Inside the Numbers
> Grambling State finished with five runs on five hits and committed one error
> Ja'Lynn Bonner started in the circle and pitched 4.2 innings. She gave up one unearned run on four hits, with one walk
> D'Maria Matthews earned her second victory in pitching 2.1 innings. She surrendered two runs on two hits, with a pair of walks and one strikeout
> Rikkelle Miller went 3-for-3, with four RBIs and one run scored
> Tyra Tripplett went 1-for-3 with two runs scored
> Jamea Lyons took the loss as she was tagged for five runs on six hits with five hits and three walks
> Alexandria Mason went 2-for-3 to pace the Tuskegee offense
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.